SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27504, 26 September 1950, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Hydro-electric Department Handicapped

STAFF LEAVING FOR BETTER POSITIONS PA CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 25. New Zealand was engaged on construction beyond its capacity to fulfil, said the general manager of the State Hydro-electric Department, Mr A. E. Davenport, when telling the annual conference of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand in Christchurch today of the severe effect staff shortages were having on his ‘department and the Ministry of Works. The shortage on the technical side had been particularly important, said Mr Davenport. The number of men who had left the employ of departments for better pay elsewhere was large, and it would be increased unless steps were taken to rectify the position.

There was also a shortage of labour for the jobs, he said. The departments were only getting a share of the available men. There was no priority.

“We must, at this stage, be careful to concentrate our efforts on those works which really matter. If you want to get out of the power shortage, please bear that in mind,” said Mr Davenport.

Reviewing work on the power schemes throughout New Zealand, he indicated that he was satisfied with the progress made. Summing up, he said: “ You have not got all the power you want, but you still have a great deal of power available to you, and we hope that the progress on the works will be such that the year-by-year position will improve.” Mr Davenport said he had high hopes that geothermal power would be available in New Zealand in the future. Investigation had Deen concentrated first on an area about 13 miles square near Wairakei. “By Christmas we should have a plan of the area which will enable us to tell where to put down a major bore,” he concluded.