LABOUR PLACEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19041, 15 June 1936, Page 4

LABOUR PLACEMENTS

NEW SCHEME'S PROGRESS

REGISTRATIONS EASING UP

EMPLOYERS' INQUIRIES

The stream of registrations received at the Gisborne central office under the new replacement scheme for absorbing labour into normal channels has shown an easing tendency during the past few davs, but it is still fairly strong, and a large number of men have filed their names and indicated the avenues of employment in which they wish to be re-established. An encouraging sign in connection with the scheme is that the number of inquiries from prospective employers of labour has increased, and so far'as this district is concerned the placement scheme seems to have made an excellent start.

Discussing the major aspects of the scheme, Mr. If. Hackett, placement officer for the district, stated to-day that the project was becoming fairly widely recognised by employers, and _ that material success was anticipated in returning skilled and unskilled men to rhe.jobs which they.held prior to the depression and the spread of unemployment. Business conditions throughout the country seemed to favour the absorption of a great many more men than were in permanent employment, and at present his principal concern was to secure a wider recognition of the general conditions under which the placement project operated. "Men registering under the scheme should remember," he said, "that their statements regarding previous employment are verified as far as possible, and that the work of the placement staff will be much assisted if clear details of past employment, with terms of employment in each particular job, ,are supplied. These details should be supported, where possible, by copies of references." GOVERNING CONDITIONS The placing of men in jobs, as they offer, is governed by the following points: — (a) Suitability of the applicant for the particular job to be filled, skilled tradesmen being given preference over those only partially trained. ~ (b) The domestic circumstances of the applicant, .where accommodation has to be considered.

(c) The order of registration; i.e., men registered for, say, two weeks are considered, subject to (a) and (b) above, before later registrations. (d) Men who voluntarily leave existing jobs in anticipation of employment in railway .camps or on other Public Works Department jobs, thereay inconveniencing their employers, are placed on tho waiting list; this applies particularly to men in farming accupations, though those now in employment are advised to remain there, chough no obstacles are put in the way of their registering their employment needs.

(e) Employers who engage men through the placement bureau are askjd to keep in touch with the officers of the bureau, and to furnish reports, verbal or otherwise, on the work dope by the men they secure, -i (f) Both employees and employers .■an assist the office by giving clear details of their trades and the nature of the jobs performed. The Labour Department is particularly anxious that men should achieve placement in their particular trades, and also that no one section of the labour market should be starved for the benefit of any other section. FARM WORKERS LISTED Prospective employers of labour for tho early spring or other seasonal work are advised to get into touch with the placement office at once, to ascertain what labour of the required class is offering. Cowboys, drovers, fencers, shepherds', scrub-cutters and other farm workers already have been classified according to the foregoing conditions, and tho bureau officers are gratified to note that a good class of worker is offering in all these classifications.

Those interested should remember that the placement scheme does not apply to relief and sustenance men only. This fact is liable to be overlooked by prospective employers, though recognised by the men registering under the scheme.

"Youths, from 16 to 21 years are in demand for all classes of work," continued Mr. Hackett. "Both town and country work' is offering for this class of workez-j and registrations are insufficient at present to meet the demand. The bureau has a large number of men of different classifications, on the register, however, and employers seeking assistance are likely to find their needs on the list,' regardless of the trade or occupation represented. The interest and support of employers generally is, of course, essential to the success of the scheme, and the fullestinformation will be furnished on application to the placement office, alterna- ; tively, a member of the staff will call j upon a prospective employer at short notice.

"Men living in centres distant from Gisborne, but included in the Gisborne area for the purpose of the placement scheme, should get into touch with their respective postmasters. Arrangements have been made to have their registrations, with accompanying information, forwarded by these officers; and an endeavour will be made, in each case, to find suitable employment for individual registrants in their own areas."