BREAKWATER EXTENSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 5

BREAKWATER EXTENSION

LABOUR SUBSIDY .PROBLEM DISCUSSION WITH MINISTER A deputation from the Oamaru Harbor Board consisting of Messrs G. T. Gulies (chairman), R. K. Ireland, A. N. Hayes, C. J. Marshall. A. C, McLelland, A. Mclnnes, and the secretary (Mr T. J. Guthrie) waited on the Minister of Health (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) yesterday afternoon in connection with the discontinuance of the scheme 13 subsidy on labour employed on the breakwater extension. It was submitted by'the deputation that the harbour improvements being carried out were of.vital importance to the future welfare of the port. In asking the Government for assistance, the board submitted that the\ work it was doing was of national importance. The No. 13 scheme had been closed on January 2, since when the board had made evevy endeavour to have it reinstated. The board was carrying on in the meantime at its own expense, using the best labour available, but, if .the extension work was discontinued and the plant and machinery were laid aside, it.would cost much money to restore the job, and in addition much of the work already accomplished might be adversely affected by heavy seas. If thp Government could give assistance to compensate for the loss of overseas shipping the board could finance the scheme until the end of the war. Satisfaction was expressed with the progress already made. A substantial job was being done with stone from the board’s quarry, and a ‘concrete extension was being designed to protect the harbour entrance to allow dredging to be done. It was further submitted that scheme 13 had not been made use of in any part of New Zealand for more beneficial work than on the Oamaru breakwater. Mr McLelland said he was personally in favour of the scheme if men were available for the work, but the way in which it had been carried on for the last 12 months was nothing short of wasteful. He contended that at least 20 subsidised men were required to proceed with the work. Mr Nordmeyer informed the deputation that were it not for the difficulty concerning man-power, scheme 13 labour would be provided for the Ramsay extension, but looking at all the facts he felt bound to say there was little justification for the Government to continue to subsidise men for that job when employers were crying out for men. He felt bound to say that the breakwater was well worth while, and also the standard of the work was good. The department was well pleased with the value obtained for the expenditure on what was not an inconsiderable job, but employers required men badly and no' Government could subsidise men for work that was not essential. He was not unsympathetic, and appreciated the board’s problems, and as soon as the labour position improved he would favour the resumption of the subsidy scheme. He expressed the opinion that after the war some shipping companies might want to continue with the centralisation scheme, and he did not think the former normal shipping schedule would be regained until two years after the war. The Government was considering the question of giving some form of assistance to harbour . boards suffering from the loss of overseas shipping. Mr Nordmeyer was thanked for receiving the deputation.