AGL - Accordant Group. was previously AWF Madison, Allied...

[BRICKS]

quote:Originally posted by Misc

Im not sure what your meaning is 'BRICKS' , but if I held this stock I would be ringing the company and enquiring about the above article.
At very least the company should make an NZX announcement , um , dont you think?
Misc

answer.. NO.. [8D]

[minimoke]

Looks like DOL can move as fast on this problems as the police did with the Kahui's.

From last year:

Labour scarcity hits vineyards (July 2005)

06 July 2005
By DAN HUTCHINSON

A chronic labour shortage and repeated immigration scandals are starting to have a serious impact on Marlborough's wine industry, growers say.

Marlborough Grape Growers' Association president Stuart Smith said there was an extreme shortage of labour in the region at a critical time for growers.

"There seems to be an awful lot of unpruned vines out there, and certainly some growers are very nervous about getting finished," he said.

Labour contractors have differing views about the cause of the problem, with Marlborough Horticulture owner Bob Lee saying those contractors employing illegal immigrants were forcing prices to unsustainable levels and making money by swindling their workers.

Lee had dropped his rates below cost to remain competitive, but said he was aware of four experienced labour contractors who had folded in the face of "ridiculously low prices" from other contractors.

"I am pretty hot on it really. I have seen some good people go to the wall just recently. If this continues, we will have no option but to fold."

He said he had heard of 130 illegal workers brought down in two shipments from Hawkes Bay to staff Marlborough vineyards recently.

Lee, who also owns Jacks Backpackers in Blenheim, said he had come across plenty of stories from vineyard workers who had been ripped off by previous contractors.
There were many overseas workers who could be brought into the country legally if the rates were there to attract them.

However, Mike Porter, managing director of Contract Labour Services New Zealand, said the current labour shortages in New Zealand meant those who had briefly overstayed should be encouraged to stay rather than be deported.

"It has become very obvious in recent months that the amount of people here now with legitimate work permits is not nearly enough to fulfil the labour requirements for the horticulture and viticulture needs of New Zealand," he said.

The Immigration Department estimates there were more than 20,000 illegal overstayers in New Zealand in November last year.

Porter said workers, particularly from South-east Asia, had exceptional skills in the horticulture and viticulture industries.

"There needs to be put in place urgently a mechanism with new criteria specifications for their work permit extensions," Porter said.

"People currently eligible to work in New Zealand should have their permits extended to cover shortfalls in other regions."

He said it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to find New Zealand workers to staff vineyards and orchards and he estimated Marlborough grape growers were short by 1500 workers this season.

Smith said he and others were in the process of looking at the extent of the problem and the impact on the current pruning season. "I have been saying for a long time it is going to be bad this year and I am still going to have to say that for next year as well."

He said the bad publicity surrounding illegal workers was also scaring away legal workers, particularly people from countries where they mistrusted police and government officials.

He said any use of cheap, illegal labour was not being reflected in pruning costs for growers as they had risen by 14 per cent on last year.

"And I don't know of any grower who is not asking the question, `Are your workers legal?'

"None of this would be an issue if we didn't have a labour shortage, and there is an extreme shortage," Smith said.

Marlborough has fewer than 200 unemployed people listed with Work and Income.

Smith said the region simply did not have a large enough population base to draw workers from.

[minimoke]

And spot the similarities between this note in AWF's 2006 Annual report and yesterdays newspaper article.

"Contract Labour Services is a leading supplier of temporary labour to Horticultural, Agriculture, and Viticulture. The directors of CLS all carry lifetime experience in primary growing and have built a reputation for the supply and management of staff to carry out the seasonal requirements. It has established a presence in all the major growing districts and is well set to supply the needs of a burgeoning viticulture industry.

For AWF Group it is a welcome addition in that it extends both the numbers of crew required and offers the opportunity to utilise crew more evenly throughout the year. The business model for this company requires flexibility in moving large numbers into and out of seasonal “hotspots” and the arrangement of accommodation for large numbers of people as they move from one location to the next. The CLS understanding and experience in making this happen makes it a welcome addition to the AWF Group."

[BRICKS]

minimoke are you saying your story is connected with AWF if not you should infer SAME.. [8D]

[minimoke]

The trouble with suppression orders and the likes of Immigration not naming the companies is that one is left to speculate on who it might be and unfortunately that speculation can tarnish the good reputation of others. Can we and indeed should we read anything into AWF’s silence. The Hort industry (HortNZ) is now distancing itself from this matter

I should also suggest that investors are reliant on companies providing information to the market to guide their investment decisions. We know with the likes of FTX and SMS that Directors can be a little niggardly with fully and correctly informing the market which means the market must look for other sources of information and make the best decisions on all available information.

There are loads of companies working in this area but how many do both horticulture and viticulture AND have accommodation AND can work out of Hastings and Marlborough AND can manage a large number of workers?

[BRICKS]

minimoke,, you are whistling in the wind and spreading rumor with inference make sure your facts are right first and a firm would never in public discuss these MATTERS.. [8D]

[minimoke]

quote:Originally posted by BRICKS
a firm would never in public discuss these MATTERS.. [8D]

If it materially affects their share price perhaps they should: down 3.4% today on a couple of trades with only a couple of interested buyers starting at $1.37

[BRICKS]

quote:Originally posted by minimoke

quote:Originally posted by BRICKS
a firm would never in public discuss these MATTERS.. [8D]

If it materially affects their share price perhaps they should: down 3.4% today on a couple of trades with only a couple of interested buyers starting at $1.37

minimoke,,you have shown your hand a non holder so stuff the exciting holders with infer statements your a CAD , SIR.. [8D]

[Misc]

Bricks , you seem a touch nervous and ignorantly defensive , the question here is simply whether the company is in breach of NZX Listing rules regarding disclosure of price sensitive information.
Misc

[BRICKS]

quote:Originally posted by Misc

Bricks , you seem a touch nervous and ignorantly defensive , the question here is simply whether the company is in breach of NZX Listing rules regarding disclosure of price sensitive information.
Misc

Misc your question is in your head only the company is in NO breach of any rules,, therefore Sir you are fishing for an untrue BITE.. [8D]