INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION

MINISTER’S DENIAL APPEAL TO MANUFACTURERS (Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Friday A denial that the Government was appealing to manufacturers to get the country out of its difficulties was made by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. G. Webb, yesterday, when commenting upon the statement by the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, Mr H. B. Duckworth, on the absorption of public works men into industry. Mr Webb said he conferred with manufacturers some time ago to discuss the expansion of their industries as a result of the restrictions of imports. The manufacturers said they would require enlarged premises and that they were experiencing difficulty in securing young factory workers. “I pointed out that I was anxious to place as many as possible of the suitable adult men now on public works or scheme 13,” said the Minister. “Several South Island manufacturers estimated that they would require almost immediately in Christchurch and Dunedin alone about 4000 additional employees if they were to provide a considerable quantity of the goods previously imported. If other centres in the North Island responded in the same way it was quite obvious that more than 8000 additional employees would be needed.” NO INFORMATION WORKERS’ UNION SECRETARY (By Telegrapn—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr A. Cook, of which employees of the Public Works Department are members, said to-day that he could give no information about the proposal to draft men from public works to industries in which members of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation are interested. The union had not been informed of such proposal, he said. He believed few artisans remained on the department’s works, most having returned to their industries, the remaining skilled men being ones with trades like tunnelling.