SLAUGHTERMEN AND SHEARERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1917, Page 7

SLAUGHTERMEN AND SHEARERS.

AUSTRALIANS WILL NOT COME TO NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Dec. 5. The Hon. G. W. Russell said to-day that ho had received a telegram i'roiu the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company stating it had applications by cablegram from slaughtermen in Melbourne for work but these slaughtermen wen; under Iho impression they were'not allowed to land in this country. He had sent a 1 eply that the Government will welcome bona fide shearers and slaughtermen arriving here, and will issue permits for them to return to their own country at the end of th«j season. Only resident? of New Zealand are liable under the Military Service Act.

He had also cabled tnc New Zealand Government agent in Melbourne and Sydney instructing him to advertise in the leading papers of the Commonwealth that the Military Service Act did not in any way affect shearers or slaughtermen coming to New Zealand to work the season here. Mr. Russell said:—"A meeting of the Australian Workers' Union was held in due course to consider the communications between that hotly and myself, and as an outcome of that meeting I received a reply that while New Zealand was under conscription they would not allow members of their union to come to New Zealand for employment. This in my opinion shows a most regrettable "tate of things, and I am proud t« say that as far as I know no union in this country has wer taken a similar stand."