PROVISION OF WORK

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20269, 11 August 1937, Page 2

PROVISION OF WORK

STATE PROPERTIES. SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT. GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS. 'By Telegraph.— Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. | With a view to augmenting the endeavours now being made to absorb surplus labour, the Cabinet decided at I a meeting to-day to make a start with J the development of a number of rej verted Crown securities aggregating J 26,000 acres. * 44 On this class of work alone,” said ' the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, “ we will be able within the next few weeks to employ 400 additional men, and the number will be increased as the soheme expands. The number of men at present employed in different branches of land development is as follows:—Farm land development, 1000; State forestry, 1100; native land development, 5000; total, 7100. (State Land Development. “ It may be averred by some critics that this decision to extend State land development work will aggravate the alleged shortage of farm labour. This a-spect has not been overlooked, and arrangements will be made whereby men from State forest plantations and, in a lesser degree, from land develop,’mect blocks, will be made available j for seasonal farm work. | “ The scheme will require a good deal of organisation, and co-operation between the State and local branches of the Farmers' Union will be necessary to make it a -success,” Mr Savage oontinued. “ The object of the plan is largely to reduce State operations during harvest and other periods, when the maximum amount of seasonal work is required, and to allow men to return to State employment when their seri vices are not required by farmers. Men are thus assured of continuous The system will apply in f all districts where State operations are in progress. • 44 Another branch of land utilisation in which it is expected a large number of additional men will be required is afforestation. Recently, the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. F. Langstone, announced the Govern- ; meat's decision to set aside for this purpose an additional 22,000 acres in the Bay of Plenty district, and planting has already been commenced by ; utilising surplus slocks from nurseries of the State forest service. 44 In this branch of development, 44 j said the Prime Minister, " a long range plan is necessary, and the Commis- ; sioner of State Forests is at present working on data with a t view to submitting to the Government details of the department’s proposals over a period of five years. It will provide employment for a large number of men, and should decrease to a considerable extent the number now In receipt of sustenance. Hutments to Be Provided. 4 ‘ Labour will be required, not only for planting, but also for the preparation of land, the establishment of firebreaks and the erection of buildings—hutments for the men and dwellings for the permanent staff. For the greater comfort of employees, it has been decided to replace tents by hutments, which will be erected to plans prepared by the Public Works Department. 44 The objective of extending our land projects," concluded Mr Savage, 44 is not only to provide additional avenues for absorbing surplus labour, but also to create assets which will j be of value to the nation.”