WHO WANTS A JOB IN THE ARGENTINE?

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7025, 8 December 1932, Page 8

WHO WANTS A JOB IN THE ARGENTINE?

Plot of Jungle 600 Miles From Anywhere Called Eldorado

In a letter dealing with tho meat industry in tlio Times on November 28 ; a correspondent briefly referred to conditions of employment in the Argentine, which is in competition with 1 tho Dominion on tho Home market. 'He quoted from a letter received in Palmerston North from the British Consul-General at Buenos Aires, which ris of such general interest that the •'Whole of its contents aro published by ’"the Times this"morning. The ConsulGeneral's letter reads as follows: British Consulate-General, Buenos Aires. Juno 30th, 1932. “With reference to your letter oi die 27th April, 1932, I enclose herewith a memorandum on the prospects of securing employment in the Argentine- Republic. I would strongly advise you not to como hero unless you have a thorough knowledge of Spanish and a promise of employment immediately upon arrival. "With regard to the scheme for establishing a colony of British settlers on tho Eldorado Estate in Hisicnes, I can only say that tho chair-

man of the company and promoter of the scheme is a Mr. Schwclm, a naturalised British subject, who has proceeded to England in order to open an office in London, where applicants can obtain information and be questioned os to their suitability. Presumably you understand that you will be purchasing a plot of virgin forest or ' jungle land, some GOO miles from tho nearest town of any sie, and will be expected to clear and develop the land and build your own house, though the company will doubtless see that native labour is available for the harder manual labour and that expert advice and stores for the purchase of provisions, etc., aro also at the disposal of the settlers.’’ Prospects of Securing Employment.

1. Buenos Aires has a population of nearly 2,000,000, of which some 30,000 arc British or of British origin. 2. Spanish is . the language of the country, and a thorough knowledge of the language is essential for success. 3. Five iarge railways in the Argentine are British-owned and operated; as are also the larger tramway companies. There aro two British banks and one Canadian established in Buenos Aires; five meat-preserving companies j(two American); several land-owning companies (Bovril, Liebigs, La Forestal, etc.), and numerous British shipping companies and commercial firms. Generally speaking, the London offices of these companies select the

English-speaking employees they require and send them out to the Argcnj, tine under contract for a period of from three to five years. This policy considerably restricts the opportunities offering for a person who comes here on tho chance of securing employment. 4. Contracts for execution in the Argentine (other than with the Brir,ish banks and railways) should be legalised by an Argentine Consul, otherwise they cannot be legally cnforced in this country. „ 5. Anglo-Argentines, who are bi--5 lingual and familiar with local customs and conditions, have a distinct •s advantage over persons born outside tho Argentine in securing employment in this city. They have homes established here, and, as they reside with their families, living expenses are cheaper than would be those of a newcomer.

6. Living expenses in tlie Argentine are between two and three times as high as in the United Kingdom, and anyone offered a post would require a proportionately higher salary to secure the same comforts as enjoyed in EngJaiid. Professional Men. 7. In order to practice in the Argentine, doctors, dentists and other professional men are required to rcqualify before they are permitted to practice their professions. This requires from three to five years, and necessitates talcing the full course at an Argentine University. 8. Expert stenographers and typists with a thorough knowledge of English and Spanish shorthand would secure from 300 to 600 dollars Argentine paper per month, according to their abilities. They should be furnished with satisfactory references, and if possible bring cut with them introductions to persons already resident here.

9. Teachers should only come to the Argentine under contract with one of the established British schools, and should stipulate that their secondclass fare should bo paid back to England on the termination of their service. The usual period is for about three to four years.

Skilled Labour 10. Mechanics, electricians, chauffeurs, etc., would experience great difficulty in securing employment. They should have a thorough knowledge of the language, otherwise they arc not likely to secure employment. Clerks, Etc. 11. Clerks, shop-assistants, etc., ... would encounter great difficulty in securing employment. Unskilled Labour 12. The principal industries of the Argentine are agriculture and stockraising, and the immigrant who is most welcome is tlie one prepared to take up this class of work. Unskilled labour is chieliy drawn from. Italy and Spain. The conditions of living and work in the camp are totally different „ from what most Englishmen are ac- •: customed to, that they are not rcconii mended to attempt it. . They would ,i find great difficulty in the language * and associations. It must be remembered that except for colonies of settlers composed chiefly of Italian, German and Spanish settlers, the greater part of the developed land is in the i hands of extremely wealthy Argentine ’ families, who have vast estates and i who 'usually employ native labour. ."British land companies occasionally bring out men for appointments as

sub-managers, accountants, etc. (Bovril, Liebigs, etc.). These appointments are generally made from the United Kingdom. 13. Persons requiring further information are advised to purchase from His Majesty’s Stationery Office,' Kingsway, London, W.C.2, a booklet entitled ‘‘General Information for Intending Settlers in the Argentine Piepublic,” issued by the Overseas Settlement Office, price 9d. The nominal value of a £1 note is approximately 13 dollars 60 cents Argentine paper. In general, British subjects are not advised to come to the Argentine on the chance of securing employment unless they have some relation or friend residing in the Republic who can assure them, work.