AUSTRALIAN BUILDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20741, 27 February 1939, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN BUILDERS

WARNING BY EMPLOYERS HIGH COST OF LIVING CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, Feb. 25 Building artisans who are contemplating seeking work in New Zealand were warned to-day by the president of the Victorian Employers’ Association, Mr E. F. Ryall, to discount the “blandishments” of the New Zealand Government. Mr Ryall said that men should inquire as to the cost of living in New Zealand, which he believed was higher than in Melbourne. As a result real wages may be less. Men should also consider what would happen when the 12 months’ guaranteed work was ended. Mr Ryall added: “In New Zealand the economic position is far from good. It is worse than in Australia, and appears to be deteriorating still further. “It will not be much good for men, if they are stranded in New Zealand, to try to edge themselves hack to the building industry here. They should not be misled by the specious talk of the New Zealand Government concerning conditions in the Dominion.” AMPLE WORK HERE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS ASSURANCE BY MR SAVAGE (By Telegrapn.— press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday “They will not be out of a job when 12 months are up," said the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, in reply to the warnings given by the president of the Victorian Employers’ Association, Mr E. F. Ryall, to building tradesmen contemplating work in New Zealand. “We do not want to indulge in blandishments,” he continued. “It was because of that that we modestly mentioned 12 months’ work, but we have years of work to catch up so far as housing alone is concerned. That fails to take into account public buildings, which have been neglected by previous Governments. “In round figures, we are at least £18,000.000 behind requirements, and if workmen can see the end of that in our day, I cannot.” Mr Savage said it was not intended to charter a steamer to bring the men over. It was best that they should come in batches as arrangements were made for the absorption here.

ASSISTED IMMIGRATION STATE’S FIRST CALL ON SERVICES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday A reminder to prospective employers -that skilled workers now being recruited in Australia would be under contract to take service for at least 12 months with contractors and subcontractors under the State housing scheme was given by the Minister of Housing, the Hon. IT. T. Armstrong. The Minister said that the broad purpose of the present immigration of artisans was to give relief generally to the building trade throughout "the Dominion, but as the Government was undertaking the expense of bringing the men here it naturally required to have first call on their services. This was provided for in the form of agreement which each man would sign before receiving an assisted passage. The Minister said all the men would he engaged in Wellington and Auck- , land, where the housing shortage was particularly acute. •* This particular scheme, which is restricted to the immigration of persons skilled in certain specified occupations. marks the first assisted immigration venture undertaken since the Labour Government came into power.” said Mr Armstrong. “It differs from the assisted passage scheme which operated under earlier administrations in that the nomination method has been dropped in favour of individual selection on grounds of indus- ' trial and medical fitness.”