WARNING NOTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26437, 16 April 1947, Page 7

WARNING NOTE

TRAINING OF CARPENTERS POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE UNEMPLOYMENT Industrial Correspondent WELLINGTON, Apl. 15. Fearing future unemployment in the bifilding industry, the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union has written to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, questioning the advisability of unrestricted trade training for adults, and calling for a long-range plan for the try. The union at its recent national conference was informed by a representative of the Rehabilitation Department that the department was planning its training programme on the assumption that the total requirement of carpenters in this country was 16,000. about twice the present number. As the estimated annual wastage was 1200, and as replacements through apprenticeship were only 300. his department was budgeting for up to 1000 adult trainees each year to bring the labour force up to full strength. The union has quoted these statements in its letter to the Prime Minister, and has also referred to reports that the Government plans to bring housing -tradesmen from Britain as part of an immigration scheme. “We readily concur that under the present conditions the number of carpenters available is less than adequate to cope with the country’s building needs,” the letter says. “However, to create an enormous labdur force by adult training and importation to meet a passing phase must have its consequences later. The training and- imoortation of tradesmen to meet the industry’s biggest boom, only to have them flung on the industrial scrap heap as the boom subsides, is definitely unwise. Budgeting should be, at all times, on normal requirements. “ We do not necessarily propose that there should be an immediate curtailment of adult training. We do contend, however, that the requirements of this abnormal period should not be used as a base by the Rehabilitation Department, and that a serious attempt should be made by the Government to stabilise the industry. “The only method of stabilising the building industry so that guaranteed employment is available over a reasonable period of years for present personnel, for rehabilitation trainees, and for immigrants is to plan public works programmes covering at least 20 years ahead. We are aware that from time to time statements emanating from the Works Department have been made, sometimes vague and sometimes more precise, forecasting future building programmes, but something more than this is required, especially as. in general, these deal with short-term plans.”