STATE HOUSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 16

STATE HOUSES

AUSTRALIAN TRADESMEN CONTRACTS IN NEW ZEALAND SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington; Aug. 8. ..Almost complete success for the scheme of bringing Australian tradesmen to New Zealand was claimed by the Minister of Housing (Mr H. T. Armstrong) this evening., during the Financial debate in the House of Representatives. "Naturally I did not expect 100 per- cent.' success," he said, " but I can say quite definitely that it has been 99i per cent.; so? what is all the noise about?" -■■•.-■:••■■<;■•■■ Mr Armstrong said that 384 men were brought from Australia under the scheme and the passage money was advanced to 338. Of these, 22 had fully . repaid the. money advanced and -263 were paying regularly in accordance with their agreement. . There were 50 more men with whom the department was out of touch, but this was due to, the normal process of the men changing from,one job to another.. - - v " It is definitely Untrue and unfair to the, Australian • tradesmen- .conconcemeU to say that a large number of them have returned' to\ Australia after-having enjoyed'*?Visit to New Zealand at, the, Government's expense,'.' Mr .: Amistrong said. "*ln point •of fact, only 'four have returned ,to was released from his .contract owing to ill-health and.-anothefc. because -of specials family ■ circumstances. ' He 1 was not asked*for-his fare. In • the' two:; tother cases,yvthe men returned to Australia Without refunding their fares. -•' ,-'.-.-}•.? "The total cost of the advanced was £3lis.,and at July3l the men had repaid £ 1859, leaving a balance of only £1550,? the Minister r said. ! '?• Generally speaking the Austraharisfhave played the .game, are real good workmen >«nd-' have been generally satisfied-. - The Government regards .the, schemev ?& a remarkable success? and •rhas;^ 'regrets whatever about ■-•its'; decision >to avail itself of the .services ,of 'Australian tradesmen*."'•;. ,c,:■' .i '/■■ ■■ ....,_■?_• TRADESMEN- FROM BRITAIN COrffINGENT ON M^ANE (Per United Press Associatioh) AUCKLAND, Aui 8. Under arrangements made by the Government, 50 skilled tradesmen left Great Britain in the Rangitane, which is due to arrive at Auckland on August 23. Already two other parties have arrived in the Dominion from England under contract. The flrsrparty arrived- in Wellington.' by .the ? Rttigi; tiki on June. 29, and was cOmtKJsediof 59, skilled workers, and 47 followed 1 soon aftef in the Rangltata. Other skilled workers not under contract also arrived by the two vessels.-. The Rangitane's party is. comprised of 27 carpenters, AvPamters,'fi Plas-They-wp b)a.:.usedm the State hous- ; ing scherag. v ) : l - •*..■;',£ J.-