HOUSE FACTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17407, 21 May 1928, Page 6

HOUSE FACTORY.

SHORTENING HANDS.

DICTATED BY ECONOMY. TELEGRAM TO PREMIER. Complaints have been made to different members of Parliament in this district of the dismissal of men from the Government house factory at Frankton, and to-day Mr W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan,, sent the following telegram to the'Prime Minister, Right Hon. J. G. Coates:—

" I am advised that seven more men have been put off at the Frankton house factory and that others have been notified, some of whom are married. In view of the large amount of unemployment and the very genuine distress in the town, I hope the Government will not increase this, but will keep these men employed. The country is looking to you for a lead." Questioned on the matter this morning, officials at the house factory declared that the policy of the establishment was set by the Government. So far as they could see there was nothing else to do when there was no work for the men, but to shorten hands. The situation was purely an economical one and the policy in no way differed from that of any other commercial concern. It would be a waste of public money to keep men on the pay roll when no work could be found for them. The authorised cutting programme had been finished and unless further instructions to proceed with more cutting were received, there was no alternative but to get rid of the hands for whom work could not be found. What else, they asked, could be done? A limited staff would, of course be retained in the house issuing department, and the number here would be gauged from time to time by the demand for houses.

It was stated that during the past six months approximately 25 men had been put off. The officials and doubtless the Government, regretted the necessity for reducing hands, but there would be just grounds for public complaint if men were retained and paid for doing nothing. They thought the present agitation emanated merely from one man.