FEMALE LABOUR FOR NORTH ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 6, 2 October 1943, Page 4

FEMALE LABOUR FOR NORTH ISLAND

Transfer From South

CHRISTCHURCH PROTEST TO MINISTER

Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, October 1.

An emphatic protest against the transfer of female labour from the West Coast to the North Island has been sent to the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, by the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. A. M. Hollander, and at a meeting of the committee of the association his action was approved. “Apart from the grave disquiet that is felt here regarding the social implications involved in the wholesale transference of labour from country districts to centres of population,” wrote Mr. Hollander to the Minister, “there is also the feeling that this concentration ot industry in the North Island is to the detriment of the South Island socially, politically, and economically, and that postwar problems are being aggravated by a continuance of this policy.” Mr. Hollander added that if the essential undertakings in the North Isiana towns were of such a nature that new labour would have to be obtained, then it would be more reasonable that other essential work already done in the north, and which could be done in the South Island, should be transferred to the south, thus relieving the girls already in the north for new essential undertakings ami utilizing South Island labour in those towns where a shortage existed. “Our association should not be the only organization which should take this matter up. Whatever arrangements arc made for the girls, it is not in their interests that they should be sent to North Island towns and go far away from their homes,” said Mr. Hollander after the letter had been read to the meeting.