PLAN EVOLVED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21086, 12 July 1938, Page 8

PLAN EVOLVED

CONTINUOUS EMPLOY Men in Seasonal Work By Teleernph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, July 11. The Government has now brought into operation a plan which every year will ensure the absorption of seasonal unemployed thrown on to the labour market through the temporary cessation of industries. This was emphasised by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who is co-operating with the Minister of Employment, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in the employment drive. Mr Webb indicated that in future in such cases as the freezing industry where men come out on the labour market every year for a period, continuity of employment would be ensured by the new scheme.

“Our efforts have led to the provision of work for all men in the Dominion who are fit to work,” the Minister said. “We have found positions for every employable man in both islands as we said we would. The scheme has entailed sending many single men out into the country on such work as afforestation, river clearance, river erosion, drainage, provision of access to backblock farms, improvement of highways and irrigation extension. We have also concentrated on work designed to improve the recreational facilities of the country. Men have been put on schoolgrounds, swimming baths, tennis, croquet and football grounds, bowling greens and golf links. The shorter working week has greatly increased the demand on our existing recreational facilities and social amenities, and we have been able to meet the demand through this scheme. The Government believes that to spend money in this way is all to the good. The Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, is keen to see better school grounds, for instance, and the Employment Department is helping his department considerably in this respect. “Sand dune fixation, the improvement of the -waterfronts at holiday resorts and work of that nature also goes on to our list. Every job we undertake is investigated first by engineers and the local authorities most closely interested, and there is no question that all this work is asset-creating. We are now preparing a plan which is already in operation this season to ensure that each winter we can absorb seasonal workers who come out of employment regularly. These jobs which we will give to seasonal unemployed, will be of sufficient duration to keep them in work until their particular industries require them again. We want to bring about a balanced scheme for the provi-, sion of work for these men all the year round.”