FEW MECHANICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 73, 13 April 1937, Page 5

FEW MECHANICS

— Prees AsBocIatieB,.)

Shortage of Skilled Workers at Auckland HIGH VAGES PAID

(By Telegraph

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Although there are still several thousand unemployed in Auckland, in some of the skilled occupations there is a pronounced scarcity of good tradestnen. Indeed, advertisements have appeared in Australian newspapers for sldlled panel-beaters and engineering fitters for New Zealand, and Wellington manufacturers have sought in Auckland for panel-beaters and other skilled tradesmen in the motor-body iniustry. Even the Goverament has competed with private enterprise in Auckland for skilled tradesmen, and lts Petone Bailway Workshops, which make motor bodies for its bus services, have taken many tradesmen from Auckland. All this has had an effect on wage scales and, while under the award panel-beaters are entitled to 2/6 an hour with a 40-hour week, it is stated that good men are earning much more. Garages could absord many more »ood motor mechanics, a fact familiar to many motorists, who often find it necessary to wait for varyxng periods before repairs can be effected to their 3ars. ' ' There is plenty of garage labour of a sort," explained one proprietor, "but mechanics »of experience who 3o not need supervision and who can accomplish all the> diflBcult tasks necessary are all too scare "