MEN FOR PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 6

MEN FOR PUBLIC WORKS

> STILL A BIG SHORTAGE THE MINISTER'S OPINIONS An idea prevails that it is the intention of the Government to go on with a lot of c-xtra public works in <rder to find work for returning soldier?. Indeed, mention has been made of a special schedule of works being in readiness for the coming of men in such bodies that they might not at once find employment otherwise. The Minister of Public Works said yesterday that this was not at all his'intention. Up till the present very few soldiers had applied to the Department for employment, and he did not exprct that any large number of them would apply in future. He could give work to a considerable number of men if tiny would apply through the District Engineers of the Department. The truth was that he was already, and had been for some time, about 3000 men short of the number that he ought to have on pnblio works at this time of the year, and he did not anticipate that oven when all the men came back he would* be abb to get at once so many men os would bring his force of roads and bridges and railways men up to strength. Owing tn the wastage of the war tho supply of man-power in the Dominion had been short for two or three years, and it was yet far from sufficient for requirements. The growth of youths to manhood had not, as it would in normal times, kept pacewith the requirements of the community i;i the work of strong men, owiiiK to the loss_ of so many men in tho Army. Nor did' he think that the shortage duo to permanent wastage would be recovered for some years unless it should be made up by immigration.