NO RUSH INTENDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 7

NO RUSH INTENDED

Building Tradesmen

Influx from Australia

By releeronn - Prp«=< A >nr AUCKLAND, February 24

“It is not intended to arrange for a rush of men to come to New Zealand all at once, but they will brought over in such numbers as can conveniently be placed,” stated the Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb), when he outlined to-day the arrangement that had been made to receive the skilled building tradesmen who are being enlisted in Australia.

“The Labour Department is making arrangements to receive the men on board ship. Temporary accommodation will be made available for them a few days after their arrival. In the meantime, arrangements are being made with builders and other employers needing skilled men, to apply to the officers of the Employment Division of the Labour Department in their respective town. On receipt of information as to their requirements, the Department will be in a position to supply the considerable amount of skilled labour required. “It is therefore, essential for those in need of skilled men to make application at the earliest moment, in order that the men can be sent to the different jobs on their arrival,” added Mr Webb. The Minister said it was certain that many builders would be on the look-out for skilled men, in order to tender for fresh work, but it was not the Government’s intention to have hundreds of tradesmen brought into the country before arrangements had been made for their placement. Some of the men would come to New Zealand straight away.

“There is no possibility of us bringing in more than the economic conditions justify, but I am confident that, with the importation of this fresh skilled labour, a new impetus will be given to industry generally, and consequently many hundreds of New Zealand unskilled workers will soon be engaged in permanent work,” he concluded.

A cable message from Sydney to-day, said that Mr J. H. Hodgens is going to Melbourne and Adelaide next wgek. He said that roofing tilers, electricians and plumbers were practically unobtainable in Sydney.