WORK FOR 100 MEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 4

WORK FOR 100 MEN

EAST COAST HIGHWAY SOME FROM GISBORNE KEEPING UP TO DEMAND About 100 men are to be put on the East Coast highway during the coming winter, as they become available through the completion of other public works aiid the disbanding of the groups formed for their respective' purposes. In addition, there will be a considerable amount of contract work available, in connection with the bringing of streams between Te Araroa and Opotiki. and in these works more men will be absorbed.

This information was given to a Herald representative to-day by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, in reply to inquiries, Mr. Sempk agreed that within the next two or three months many of the public works jobs initiated a year or perhaps six months ago would be carried to completion, and that arrangements were being made wherever possible to provide for the reabsorption.of the meik so released. The Minister's attention was drawn to statements published elsewhere, to the effect that a new large-scale series of public works is to be announced shortly, and that Mr. Semple's tour of the Last Coast district was made principally to look into a number of projects which might be started. "Just Guessing" "That is just guessing," commented the Minister, who added the information that there would be no largescale operations on the East Coast road, such as might be inferred from the reports alluded to. The route did not lend itself to profitable employment of a large number of men, but about 100 would be employed in reconstruction of the road, and in such piecemeal jobs as could be provided to see them thnnigh the winter. A proportion of these men would -be taken from the Gisborne district, whore formation work on the railway and other jobs were reaching a point of advancement at which it was necessary to taper off a hit. The Minister added that he could give no details of any large-scale projects which might be taken up in the early future, but throughout the country, as on the East Coast, the Government would encourage every endeavour to absorb labour privately, as well as in public works. Contractors who secured jobs from the Government would need men. and this would help to keep up to the demands of the labour market, he concluded.