INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 50, 23 February 1943, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER

APPEAL COMMITTEE SITTING

LOCAL GASES HEARD The first of the Industrial Appeal Committee in Whakatane took place last Wednesday in, the local Courthouse when three cases were heard. The committee personnel were Messrs J. O. Liddelil (chairman), W. J. Truscott and' K. Simpson with Mr J. Clouston (secretary) and l Mr J. McGlone (District Manpower Officer). The first appeal concerned o'. B. Whitewood a casual waterside worker who on his own accounil said that it was going to cause the Shipping Company considerable hardship to do without him, if he was to be 'transferred to Wellington as he had been ordered. The chairman asked if appellant was not. presuming a lot in saying that he; was more or less indispensible as there was no appeal from his employees:. In answer to questions Whitewood said he was a returned soldier of the last war, was Ithe recipient of a pension, was a widower with four children and worked on the average of three, days per week. Mr G. N. Chamberlain for the Northern Steamship Company, said that he had experienced the greatest. difficulty at times in finding sufficient men to perform the. handling of cargo. At one (time he had actually to go to the Police and ask for the temporary release of prisoners to assist. After an adjournment the committee decided in view of appellant's military pension and family ties; to grant his appeal. Whitewood to be: directed to local work b.v the Manpower Officer. F. G. Maliy who had also been ordered to national work at Wellington, said lie had been asked to stand by for other work of national character by the Waikato Mastfcr Builders. He was quite prepared to do liis bit and had actually written to the Manpower Officer offering bis services. If the committee considered he should go to Wellington he would like a week or two to- attend' to hi si private affairs'. Appeal dismissed and; ordered to proceed to Wellington not ■ before March 8. The appeal of the same, appellant on behalf of W. H. Bigwood, labourer, was also disallowed.