...and they
pp. 46-47 · Read in the full issue
hope for a job of work
A current topic of conversa tion throughout Tonga is the de cision by the New Zealand Government to recruit Tongan labour in a pilot scheme that will put 160 workers into the indus trialised Hutt Valley, outside
Wellington.
The announcement by Sir Keith Holyoake came as a surprise dur ing King Taufa’ahau’s state visit to NZ in mid-August. On his return, the king elaborated on the scheme, and only then did Tongans fully appreciate its significance.
The king said NZ’s Minister of Labour, Mr, J. R. Marshall, had undertaken to invite several Hutt Valley manufacturers to become nominal employers of the Tongans.
They would pay the return air fares
of the workers, to be recovered later from wages, which would be at rul ing rates. They would ensure accom modation and welfare, and the re turn of the Tongans at the expiry of their six month work permits.
The scheme will not appear ex traordinary to the average New Zea lander who is familiar with his country’s longstanding help for her present and former Islands terri tories. But to Tonga, which has never been a member of this privileged group, which includes Western Samoa, the Tokelaus, Niue and the Cook Islands, this promise of overseas em ployment is a major breakthrough of the greatest importance.
There is great unemployment throughout Tonga. There is just not enough work. Apart from a fairly primitive form of agriculture, there is only the civil service, a couple af commodity boards, the teaching profession and some work in shops to take up the slack in a growing population of 88,000.
The average Tongan earns no more, in cash or kind, than $lOO a year, to feed, clothe and educate his family.
How he gets by and remains reason ably law abiding, and even generous, s a mystery.
Recently the Nauru Government advertised for 15 Tongans to be em ployed as ships’ stewards on its new [slands-Australia run—and in one day 100 Tongans had applied. There was a iimilar rush last year when an over seas firm called for a dozen abourers for a wharf construction ob in the New Hebrides.
If this New Zealand request for 160 men to work up to six months in he Hutt Valley is advertised locally, ny guess is that 20 or 30 times the lumber will apply instantly. And if past experience is any guide, the najority of the applicants will fulfil he necessary requirements of health, education and character.
When this first labour contingent eave for NZ, they will, like the fongan footballers last year, be men vith a mission. They will do every hing to keep open this new door of mployment opportunity.