MR. LAURENSON ON LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1441, 16 May 1912, Page 5

MR. LAURENSON ON LABOUR.

NO IMPORTATION OP HANDS PROM ENGLAND. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, May 15. Interviewed in Christchurch yesterday, tho Hon. G. Laurenson, Minister for Labour, etated:—"Thero is a brisk demand for workers in most parts of the country, and I have heard ao complaints of shorta,?°, of labour i" «ny place. Tho only ™fI.F which is presenting itself is that ot nnding work for o!d men—the men who have become partly incapacitated through illness or injury to do hard work. Strong repressntatious have been made as to tho necessity of tho Government taking steps to make provision for an imported supply of skilled labourers, farm hands, and domestic servants, but, at present, the Government does not see- its way clear to take any steps in that direction for the present at all events. The Minister stated that there was a brisk demand for workers' dwellings both in the North and South Islands, Hβ had that day inspected land at Oamam and Timarn, where tenders wero being colled for the erection of home.?.

Regarding dwellings for flaxmill hands. Mr. Laurenson said that ho had asked Mr. Loroas, Mr. Robertson, member for Otaki, and the secretary of the Vlaxmill Workers' Union to inspect a dwelling provided at the ilnxmills for the accommodation of workers. There had been several complaints as to tho nature of Hie accommodation provided, and the gentlemen whom ho had named would act as a sort of informal commission of inquiry, to ascertain what the exact position was, and to make recommendations to him within the next few'days.