SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN

“DELIBERATELY CAUSED” MR. SEMPLE’S OPINION [ Per Press Association.) HAMILTON, Feb. 28. “The very Government with which the Hon. A. Hamilton was associated destroyed the Apprentices’ Act, and reduced the number of apprentices from 10,000 to 3000, thus driving young men into slave camps for 10s a week,” said the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, in Hamilton in commenting on the statement of Mr. Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, in Christchurch. “By doing this they created a gap that we have been compelled to bridge by bringing artisans from other countries,” continued Mr. Semple. “His statement is contemptible, and I think; he is talking through the top of his head. His Government was responsible for robbing New Zealand of a generation of artisans.” Mr. Semple stated that the campaign of the National Party during the election was sensational and stupid, and was conducted on wild and reckless statements in the hope that they would stampede the people. Evidently the result of the election had not taught Mr. Hamilton anything, as he was continuing in the same strain. The Minister added that the previous Government utilised the unemployment funds to subsidise wealthy concerns instead of sub-

sidising employers for training young men in trades. Rich concerns benefited by subsidised labour- and the young men worked in slave camps. "It was the most, pathetic experience of my life when I met 2000 young New Zealanders in a slave camp,’’ added the Minister. "These young men were receiving from 10s to 15s a week and were down and cut. Had they been properly trained they would have been a wonderful asset to-day and the present problem would not exist. Mr. Hamilton now has the callous presumption to attempt to blame the Government for a position which was deliberately created by his own Government.” Stating that it was true there was still a number of young men on public works, the speaker said they were not skilled tradesmen. In fact the Public Works Department was very short of skilled men, and as many as possible were now being trained, with great success. "I said at. the time when the previous Government destroyed the Apprentices’ Act that they would be creating a nation of navvies instead of skilled artisans,” concluded Mr. Semple, "and we are now struggling to bridge the gap.”