CHEESE INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1941, Page 2

CHEESE INDUSTRY

THE LABOUR POSITION IMMEDIATE SHORTAGE MET. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. “Generally speaking, the immediate shortage of labour in the North Island for cheese factories has been surmounted,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when referring on Saturday to the labour position in the cheese industry. He said it was understood that there was little if any difficulty in meeting labour requirements for cheese factories in the South Island. Mr Fraser said that a serious situation arising out of shortage of labour was developing in the cheese industry some days ago. The Employment Division of the National Service Department, acting under Ministerial direction, immediately explored the possibilities of relieving the position. A general appeal was made in the Press and by radio broadcast for workers. Mr Paikea. representative of the Maori race on the Executive Council, also appealed to the Maori population for assistance, and a large number of Natives volunteered in the Auckland district to relieve the shortage of labour in this important industry. “As a result of these efforts, the position has for the present been satisfactorily met and current vacancies filled in the Auckland, Hamilton, and Paeroa districts,” said Mr Fraser. “Satisfactory arrangements have also been made in the Rotorua, Wanganui, and Palmerston North districts, where the expected requirements will be fulfilled, there being no outstanding vacancies. Some single men are required in the Taranaki district, but it is expected that requirements will be met. In the Master ton district there are two possible vacancies for single men, but generally speaking the immediate shortage of labour in the North Island' for cheese factories has been surmounted,”