FARMERS COMPLAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1929, Page 1

FARMERS COMPLAIN

PREMIER’S POINTED REPLY. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 17. Sir Joseph Ward to-day issued a statement with Regard to one telegraphed from Christchurch yesterday, that difficulty was being experienced in obtaining rural workers. He said that the openings for employment on State undertakings had not been framed on a competitive basis against private works, ■ nor would they have that .effect if the employers make thdir needs known to 1 the /Government labour bureaux. The Committee had inquired into the position at Christchurch, and found that although the press statements indicated therte were vacancies for forty to fifty farm workers, no inquiries whatever for that class of labour had been received at the Government Labour Bureau there.

Sir J. Ward points out that workers requiring employment had been compelled to register themselves at the Government bureaux, and it was only reasonable to expect that employers should look to that source foi fulfilment of their requirements. There was no intention of sending farm workers to relief works when employment in their own occupations was offering. It would be of assistance if farmers would supply the. nearest Government labour bureau with the names of any men they knew who would be leaving their normal occupations with the object of being placed on the Government works. A record was being kept of men refusing to accept work when offered, and no further offer of work would be made to them..