FATE IN DOUBT.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20279, 23 August 1937, Page 8

FATE IN DOUBT.

LOCAL BODY EMPLOYEES. UNEMPLOYMENT POSSIBLE. (Specfal to Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. No definite answer was given by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, when asked at a conference by Mr. 11. S. S. Kyle. M.P. what would be the fate of local body employees who would be displaced through the adoption of amalgamation plans. Mr. Kyle said that recently a zoning system had been completed in dairy factories In the South Island, and * as a result of ft many men who had been a long time in the industry had been thrown out of employment. Under the counties' amalgamation plan 15 or 20 county clerks and perhaps as many engineers would he affected, in addition to other employees. Many delegates would like fo know the position of these workers. The Minister said that a definite reply to the question was difficult. If he said that all the affected persons were to he kept at. their Jobs, then critics would complain that amalgamation would not meet its aim of reducing expense. No one had a guarantee of employment. The last slump had proved that. A delegate: Local body employees did not receive thoir walking tickets In the slump. Tho Minister said that without referrlng to any specific county he knew well that there had been retrenchment of employees. if a duplication of work was abolished a duplication of employees would probably also go. Rut the mailer could not he decided at present, and he would not commit himself on the question.