APPEAL TO MEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1941, Page 8

APPEAL TO MEN

- TO DO OTHER WORK MINISTER'S WARNING. | SCHEME 13 MAY BE CURTAILED. | •By Telegraph—Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND. January 9. An appeal to all industrial concerns i to absorb as many workers engaged-in I emplcvment promotion schemes a> > possible was made by the Minister of 1 Labour, Mr. Webb, today. The Minister said his remarks applied specially . to men on scheme 13. as the Governmen desired that those fit and able to take permanent work should have the 1 opportunity cf replacing men going <> into camp for military service.

"A considerable number of first-class 1 men have found it difficult in the past! to go away to jobs on account of family ■ reasons," said the Minister. "I now; appeal to these men and to the men on : all employment schemes promoted by ' the State to make every effort to get permanent work. Scheme 13 is to be , reviewed by Cabinet at an early date. ; and there is a possibility of its being j abolished or considerably curtailed. 1 "I would ask local bodies wherever; possible to release men employed on ! non-essential work and place them in ; essential work where that is avail- ‘j able." Mr. Webb added. "I was re-1 ‘•'ponsible for the introduction of the < scheme as 1 felt it was economic waste I to have men formed up in queues wait- ' ; ing to draw sustenance payments. I felt it was better for them and their : families and for the country that they I should be provided with suitable work. ! This has been done and every town j and village throughout the country has i profited by their labour. They have I rendered a national service but the necessity which existed for the introducI ticn of the scheme is fast disappearing. "If positions are offered these men 1 now they must be filled. If the men : refuse, unless for some very good reai son. they will hasten the end of the 1 scheme. The only men who should be ; employed on Scheme 13 today should be those whose age or physical dis- ■ abilities, together with family response j bililies, preclude them from taking ' other employment.”

In reply to a question, the Minister said there had been instances where men had refused to take other work, and in some cases they had been struck off the employment roll. It was necessary for men to be engaged where they could be of the greatest service to the country, anti it would be necessary in future to make the “striking off" rule operative in all cases where men refused to take positions when offered, except in the case of certain men already mentioned.