WORK OUTLOOK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25347, 31 October 1945, Page 8

WORK OUTLOOK

LACK OF OPPORTUNITY

DECENTRALISATION URGED (0.C,) RO'J'ORUA, Tuesday The very restricted outlook for young people seeking employment in Rotorua was the subject of a deputation representing the 'Trades and Labour Council. the Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers' Union and the National Service Department, which waited 011 the .Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, today. In seeking the assistance of the Minister in placing the claims of Rotorua iieforo prospective promoters of now industries, the speakers stated that of 78 pupils who would be leaving high school at the end of the year only ten had been able to secure situations in the town. Various organisations had given thought to the position and a youth employment committee had been set up. The district within a 00-mile radius of Rotorua had a population of nearly 00,000 and therefore the town was a good distributing centre. "The problem in so far as it can be influenced or determined by the Government is not ensy,". jaid Mr Sullivan. "My own policy is definitely the decentralisation of industry. We endeavour to induce people with new industrial projects to get away irom the large centres." Sometimes, said the Minister, the Department of Industries and Commerce had success, but it had no legal power to compel an industry to set up in a particular place? excepting those coining under the Industrial Efficiency Act.

Spine decentralisation of established industries had already taken place and it was being carried out on an increasing scale. Manufacturers were finding that good workers were more readily obtainable in country districts and towns than in big cities. Without exception, the experience of ventures which had been launched in the smaller centres of population had been happy. At the same time, communities ought to be ready to help themselves, said Mr Sullivan.. There was not enough of this local effort. People with money to invest could readily promote light industries such as clothing, footwear and furniture making. In reply to a remark by Mr Sullivan. Mr C. Lindsay said that data setting out the advantages Rotorua bad to offer was now being compiled. The Minister said he would do his best to help in this connection.

Two members of the deputation, Messrs Lindsay and George, waited on the conference of the New Zealand clothing manufacturers in the evening, placing before it the advantages of Rotorua as a site for factories. The chairman, Mr A. 11. Lee, thanked the deputation for its information. £20,000,000 GIFT PROPOSAL FOR BRITAIN CONSIDERATION DEFERRED (P.A.) CHH.ISTCHUKCH, Tuesday A suggestion that the Government should he approached to express the Dominion's appreciation of tin; role of Great Britain in the war in a practical manner, possibly in the form of free shipments of New Zealand meat, butter and cheese, was made by the vice-presi-dent, Mr J. T. Martin, of Wellington, at the Dominion conference of the Associated Chamber's of Commerce. Mr Martin said Canada had already made a gift to Britain of 1,000,000,000 dollars and had made her an interestfree loan of 750,000.000 dollars. The gift made represented .€lB a head of Canada's population. If New Zealand made a gift' of £20.000.000 to Britain it would represent about £l3 a head of the population. Professor A. H. Tocker (Canterbury) contended that before any suggestion such as Mr Martin's was approved indication should be given to the Government where the requisite finance was to cdtne from. Ho moved as an amendment that discussion should be. postponed until the motion had been circulated among delegates.

The amendment was carried. On the motion of Mr H. E. Schofield, of Matamata, the conference expressed appreciation of the war leadership of Air Churchill and of the courage and fortitude of the British people.

COUNTRY QUOTA PROTEST AT EDGECUMBE (0.C.) WHAKATAXE, Tuesday A strong protest against the action of the Government in forcing through, immediately prior to a general election, legislation which would appear to be designed chiefly to prolong its own life, was made at a meeting of farmers and residents held at Fdgeeumbe last night. Mr W. A. McCrncken was chairman. The meeting asked that the Electoral Reform Bill at present before Parliament be held up until the matters contained in it are made the subject of a referendum or one of the planks of the Government's policy at the forthcoming election. A second resolution pledged the meeting to support any action taken by the leaders of the. farming industry in opposing the abolition of the country quota. "A BREACH OF TRUST" OPINION OF TIHAT! FARMERS (0.C.) TIRAtf, Tuesday A meeting attended by 350 farmers, held at Tirau, with Mr J. S. Allen in the chair, emphatically protested against the' removal of the country quota, considering the Government's action a breach of trust. The meeting urged farming leaders to take whatever action was necessary in an endeavour to have the bill withdrawn or a referendum held. FARMER FOR TRIAL (0.C.) WHAK'ATANEi Tuesday Pleading not guilty to a charge of stealing six head of young cattle valued at £47, the property of Itiki Hereinia and ■ others, Bertie William Hughes, junior, .a farmer (Mr Hodgson), who appeared before justices in the Whakatnne Police Court, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was-fixed at £3OO and one surety of £l5O. A Maori drover* Wi Wllitu, who appeared separately, pleaded guilty to a charge of cattle stealing and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence.