TIMBER WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25047, 10 November 1944, Page 4

TIMBER WORKERS

TRAINING SERVICEMEN SUBSIDY PLAN ANNOUNCED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thirsday "The timber industry supplied many of its skilled workers to the armed forces, and is now finding great dig. culty in replacing them at a time when the acute housing shortage calls for greatly increased timber suppli es » said the Minister of Rehabilitation, M r Skinner, in a statement today. "Aft w discussions with representatives of employers and employees, the Rehabilitation Board has decided to offer subsidies for the training of various classes of inexperienced or slightly experienced ex-servicemen desiring to enter the in. dustry." Subsidy rates had been approved based on gross weekly ratesincluding cost of living, allowances— of £5 5s a week for the first six months and £5 7s 6d a week for the next six monthsRates for Different Sections For (raining in bush work, the subsidy would be 35s a week for three months, and would cover felling anc j erosscutting, breakingout, roping an( j bush tractor, and hauler driving. I n sawmills, a subsidy of 35s a week for three months would bo paid for the training of breakingdown operatives while for breast bench and gang sawyers the subsidy would be 21s a week for three months. Ex-servicemen wishing to train as planing mill and box factory rnaehin- ' ists would be covered by a subsidy of £'2 12s 6d_a week for the first f our months, 35s lOd for the second four months, and 21s 6d for the third four months. Training would include the I operation and setting up of all machines i and the grinding of knives and cut. ters. A 12 months' course in saw doctoring was provided for. said the Minister, and was to be taken at the Waipa State sawmill near Rotorua. The subsidy would be £5 5s a week for the first period of three months, £2 12s 6d for the second period. £1 15s lOd for the third, and £1 Is 6d a week for the fourth term. There would also be a limited number of vacancies for training as drying kiln operatives on the technical side. The course would he split up into three four-monthly periods, the subsidy being £2 12s 6d a wei-k for the first, £1 15s lOd for the second, and £1 Is 6d for the last period. Expanding Forestry Activities "There will be a large expansion in forestry activities after the war," continued Mr Skinner. "The State Forest Service alone is now planning numerous forestry and industrial developments which, as rehabilitation projects, are expected to result in an increase of day-wage employees from 1600 before the war to about 5000 in a relatively short time after the end of hostilities, "Local bodies and foiestation companies are also planning for postwar expansion, and will need large numbers of trained and skilled workers. The timber trade itself is expected to expand by about 25 per cent on the pre-war level, and to offer good oppor- ' tunities for skilled logging and milling • operatives of all classes." MILK BILL INQUIRY MEETING OF COMMITTEE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The Select Committee appointed by the House of Representatives to consider the Milk Bill will commence its deliberations at Parliament Building on Tuesday. As a large amount of evidence is expected, the committee, of which .Mr W. T. Anderton (Government—Eden) is chairman, has invited interested parties having a common viewpoint to combine their evidence and representations and to submit written statements. if possible. It is understood that many witnesses will attend the hearing, which is to be private. LOCAL AND GENERAL Aid to Russia Official acknowledgment of a donation of £4OO for her Aid to Russia Fund, which had been received from the Netv Zealand Society for Closer, _ Relations with Russia, has been received from Mrs Churchill. She said the society had been very generous in responding to the appeal. The society's contributions now total £778. I North Shore Gas Supply | The gas restrictions on the North ! Shore, which have been imposed while ! repairs are made to the plant at the Devonport gas works, will remain in operation throughout next week. An uninterrupted supply will be given this week-end. The genera! manager of the Auckland Gas Co., Mr R. Worley. . said yesterday that the company's coal position was better than it had been for a considerable time. Road Traffic Rules Frequent disregard of the rules relating to traffic at intersections was commented upon yesterdav by the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson. He'stated the rules, briefly, as follows:—"Give way to a vehicle on your right; if you are turning to the right, give way to all other traffic.' The driver, or cyclist, who applied those rules at intersections would find that he made the crossing both safely and speedily, he added. Ambulance Street Day , An opportunity for the public• of Auckland to express their gratitude for the unremitting service given by the St. John Ambulance Association and ; Brigade for more than 50 years will be i given today, when a street collection will be held to raise funds with which to carry on the work. In addition to the . city area, appeals will be made in a number of towns in the country districts and the money raised will be used for local needs. Navy to the Rescue A naval launch assisted in the rescue of a man, who. while fishing fro t it) » small dinghv in the harbour between Shelly Beach and Xorthcote yesterday evening, caught his anchor in the nnia and found he could not raise it- Aher frantic signalling, he managed attract attention to his plight, ana a ferry-boat bound for Devonport wa diverted to aid him. However, a s,u , naval launch reached him first, an towed the dinghy to Ponsonby. Relief For Catarrh In appealing against the calling § of an employee at yesterday's sitting the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Boario a representative of a firm engaged, the manufacture of bituminous roonig material said the reservist had an t}_ usual reason for liking his work.man, who suffered with catarrh, w engaged in looking after a boiler ' heating up bitumen and it was ioti that the bituminous fumes coming » this boiler helped to relieve his c plaint. Harvesting Camp , Permission has been granted by Hamilton Borough Council for the - of Snake Gully Camp by the Army a harvesting camp. The chairman the Housing Committee, Mr L». • Street, said that although it was - tended to begin work on the cai "f a , a temporarv housing site, the occ I tion of it by the Army would worl V* quite well, as the.men would be all day, when alterations could be con tinned. Further, the Army had taken to carry out any mamtem work, such as lawn cutting. might be required. Road Fatalities , ,- n Road fatalities in New Zealand which motor vehicles were a totalled 12 in October. In addmo , child was killed when'struck by < in school grounds. Of j the 13 four were pedestrians, three c , live occupants of motor vehicl. one a pillion-rider. The acciden - curred at Auckland. Rotorua, 1 Hamilton, Whakatane. Mo mka. w ham. Wellington, Nelson,. Chi is es (2), Dunedin and Reefton. The g for October in previous , veal o s " . in 1943. 16 in 1942. 20 in_l94l. u 1940, 13 in 1939 and 16 in