APPEAL UPHELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 61, 2 April 1943, Page 5

APPEAL UPHELD

INDUSTRIAL APPOINTMENT LOCAL MANPOWER REVIEW The second! sitting of the Industrial Manpower Committee in Whakatane took place last Wednesday when a single case of appeal against the transfer of a local shop assistant was duly granted after a half hour's sitting. The young lady concerned, Miss J. Ramson, was, appealed for by Messrs Bridgers Ltd. (Mr B. S. Barry), who claimed that she was in charge of ladies footwear department, a position which she had filled for the last six years, and could not be replaced. Mr Walter Bridgcr stated that seven men had already left the. firm for service in the armed forces and on principle the company had never appealed. When however one of their key employees was required it became an absolute necessity. The chairman, Mr J. Liddell. said lie did not sec a great deal of injj dustry in and about ' Whakatane and considered that there must be many young girls over 20 years available to meet the country's requirements. Mr Barry replied that in Whakatane girls were now employed in imnks, post office and many other occupan tions formerly held by men. It wfcs nc-\t to impossible to replace them. In reply to a question Mr Mc« Glone, Manpower Officer for this district, admitted that he had been hard put to it to 1 find girls from this district who could be red to essential industries,. Unfortunately fyc had his orders and had been told he must, find them. Cases that were overlooked six months ago were now being considered in order to try and satisfy the demand. He had considered that Messrs Bridgers already had a staff of reasonable size and could spare Miss Ramri son. No previous experience was required where, she was' going. The chairman said there must be a number of other girls: available from this town. Mr McGlone: We have about 48 name's but they are all employed and it would mean robbing someone else or taking a married woman with no* children. The chairman said there was fiot an employee who could not put( up a strong case to-day fov the retention of his staff but the manpower officers were called upon to go oven the prospective lists with a fine combe as it were, and find 500 young women to staff munition factories. As the present person had not ap-> pealed the committee had to assume she was willing to go. Mr McGlone in answer to a further question a 9 to the position.' of industrial manpower at presfcnt, said! that while they had! all bu|t filled l the present quota, he had received! information to the effect that another 500 girls would be wantedl in a month's time. The official instructions were that they would HAVE TO BE FOUND, and' it therefore became necessary to embark upon a new unpoputeir- ' ity campaign soon. After a brief adjournment the committee returned a decision upholding the appeal.