WORKERS FROM AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 4

WORKERS FROM AUSTRALIA

Skilled Tradesmen

Arriving

ORGANIZED LABOUR CONCERNED

(Special to The Times) WELLINGTON, December 8.

An influx of Australians into New Zealand, which is becoming noticeable here, is causing organized labour some concern.

In recent weeks Australians have been found in various occupations calling for special skill, and while in each case those responsible for bringing them to the country have been able to plead that men in this particular field are short, the cumulative effect of the arrival of so many workers in a short time is felt to point to a tendency which should be watched carefully. Recently, for instance, the Wellington Hospital Board determined to import four or five dentists to work full time in the dental department of the hospital. The board first advertised in New Zealand newspapers for dentists who would accept a salary of £350 per annum and found none. The decision was then made to turn to Australia where similar advertisements were inserted in the newspapers. As a result all except one of the positions have now been filled and the final man will arrive soon.

In the field of specialists in constructional work there has been quite a number of arrivals of Australians, it is reported. The firms who are responsible for the men coming to New Zealand make the same plea: acute shortage of necessary workers. Garment makers have imported girls from Australia to fill jobs they could not otherwise have filled, they say; mechanics, a limited number of them, have come here; panel beaters have been imported; and now Australian barbers are appearing in Wellington. Again the explanation is that no tradesmen were trained during the depression years and that not enough skilled labour was now available for the work to be done.

Organized labour naturally regards this tendency with some concern and it is understood that recently there have been some discussions with the Government on the outlook.