SKILLED ARTISANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 8

SKILLED ARTISANS

MINISTER’S APPEAL. RETURN TO INDUSTRY. . - Per Press Association. WELLINGTON,'June 8. “Everything is being done to speed up production,” said the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) to-day. He said an appeal was being made to all skilled artisans who had left factory or workshop for other employment to advise the nearest placement officers whether they were willing during the Avar period to re-enter the industries they had left, either to carry out their former occupations or to train others. “We are also appealing to those men and women who have retired from active work, but avlio are still able to re-enter industry,” said the Minister, Avho added that the Avar had made it incumbent upon us to produce to a greater degree the commodities previously imported, and it was the duty of skilled men and women to place their services at the disposal of the country if they Avere at present occupied in less essential work by agreeing to such transfers. These people would be rendering a great service to the country. The Minister said it was pleasing to note that a woman inspector of the Labour Department had recently induced over 20 skilled artisans and machinists, many of them married women who had left their skilled work, to promise to return to their former occupations. LABOUR FOR FARMERS.

“Every possible effort is being made to arrange for the supply of suitable labour for farmers Avell ahead of seasonable requirements,” said Mr Webb. The Employment Department, he said, had arranged for its officers to attend all stock sales and visit dairy factories throughout the country to interview farmers as to their labour requirements for the coming season, and officers of the Lands and Survey Department Avere carrying out similar work. . The Minister said his department had a number of excellent men available and he appealed to farmers to make contact with the placement officers to make their requirements known.