SKILLED WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24525, 6 February 1941, Page 8

SKILLED WORKERS

PLAN TO IMPORT LABOUR i ' ' ; I . *•-.* *. • I NEW AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIES I ' SUGGESTION TO BRITAIN (By Tasman Air Mail) SYDNEY, Jan. 29. While in’ Britain, the Prime iviiniiter (Mr Menzies) is expected to invasii*. gate the possibility ol Importing Bntisn workmen to establish new war-time industries in Australia. * The Minister lor Laoour (Mr Holt), who revealed the scheme, said;. "The question is whettier the United 1 : Kipg-_ flom Government will consider the iuti of production time during the , workers’ transit to Australia, will.tie justified by increased future output in Ausi tralia, where manufacture is not being constantly interrupted by ,t-bombs. What attitude the British Government will take to the suggestion I do not, know. Their outlook will prooamy be dictated by such factors as the extent to which aerial raids are hamper-*, ing production. ■ * "If they, consider that the time ths workers , niiist be idle while they are; coming to Australia will seriously affect the British war effort, and tnat 7 their Increased capacity and efficiency away from the bombed areas would riotiustifythe transfer, then. it. is un? likeS that apything will be done. Oil • ;the' other- hand, the British Govern* decide that the war is likely to go on-for a considerable time, ana that it is better to sacrifice some small ■ part of present production for increased production in the future. If that happens, we may see these men coming to Australia. Mr Holt instanced the shipbuilding industry as one to which the additional skilled operatives and special machinery from England would be of the utmost value. Many more skilled workmen could be used in Australian yards to • step up naval construction and to hasten the day when commercial, shipbuilding would be started. r c “In the main, however, I should imagine that the men imported from England would mainly be used in in* dustries new to Australia,” he; said. “We can extend the plants that are already here, but to build and operate new ones, we really need men who ’have previous Trade • union leaders dbubtedjvil skilled • men -could,be? Great Britain,; but ■ said there ‘wowd be no'objection to importing men provided they joined unions, in Australia; “If the Government can import labour,” said the assistant secretary of the Trades and Labour Council <Mr A. S. Me Alpine), “then it shquldcbttcentrate on shipbuilding, which must' be made a permanent industry. . _lf Importation is decided upon, British and Australian workers must ibe told whether the work is permanent or for the duration.” v : ■ ' I-