SEASONAL WORKERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1939, Page 6

SEASONAL WORKERS

EMPLOYMENT IN WINTER MONTHS OFFERING ONLY IN RURAL AREAS. MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Arrangements for the employment of seasonal workers during the winter months 'were explained by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, when asked in an interview last evening if the Government were experiencing difficulty in placing this class of labour following the closing down of the seasonal industries. The Minister warned season workers in the country districts against going into the cities and towns in the hope of obtaining employment and said that practically no work was available in these places other than for skilled artisans. Mr Webb said that in the most prosperous years there was always a considerable army of unemployed in the winter months, because of the cessation of seasonal works, such as shearing, harvesting, employment in freezing works, and other’ work connected with, the agricultural and pastoral industries. Last winter the Government had deputed him to organise work to meet the demands of this class of labour and this he had succeeded in doing. “The same policy is being pursued this winter and arrangements have been made to find employment for every man capable of performing the class of work offering, such as scrub clearing, road making, draining work, river protection work, and afforestation,” said Mr Webb. "Of course, this type of work is not to be found in Lambton Quay, an'd men desiring this work must be prepared to go where the work is offering. Camps have been and are being erected in different country places to provide accommodation for men so employed. “We have also arranged for a number to be employed in clearing farm land, and are advancing up to 75 per cent of the wages cost to the farmer. This will enable the farmers concerned to clear their land and at the same time increase production. lam pleased to say that farmers are making the necessary arrangements to provide accommodation for the men engaged in this work. Every man able to work will have a job if he is prepared to take it. “It is a great mistake for seasonal workers to drift into the big cities in the hope of getting employment,” said Mr Webb. “We advise them to register in the localities where they live, and if work cannot be found for them there, arrangements will be made to transfer them to where there is work. Practically no work is available in the towns for other than skilled artisans.”