MANPOWER PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 67, 27 April 1943, Page 5

MANPOWER PROBLEM

DAIRY COMPANY'S PLIGHT

SINGLE MEN TO GO

ACUTE LABOUR PROBLEM

The plight of the Rangitaiki Plains) Dairy Company, which entered appeals for no less thani 17 of iits employees (eight of them single men) was stressed by the Secretary-Manager, Mr R. E. Bllair, who stated that the company was fully prepared l to release singlie men, if they couldbe replaced by either gradle II men from the Army or married men who were ineligible for service. Every effort had been made to do so but the company had been informed that there were no men available. In the early part of the war negotiations had been taken up with the Government iji a serious, effort to employ female labour, but nego.-» tiationsi Ave re so unsatisfactory and prolonged that, they were finally dropped. However recently arrangements had been made for four women to start Avork in the factory in the near future. When these assistants had been suitably trained it would be possible to release a few of the company's employees. He mentioned that many of * the men were holding absolutely key positions and to have them appropnljat-t ed by the Army would be disastrous to the company. He -classed the reservists in question .under three' headings the last, of Avhich he said could be spared if replaced by men of reasonable standards and experience. Female Labour Question To the chairman, Mr Blair said that at the present time the company Avas not employing any women operatives, though it had pioneered the suggestion, two years ago and had made a serious attempt to introduce them. "We are of the opinion that the great predominance of single young men who are. grade I and Avho are employed by the company should be released for military service," said the chairman (Mr Edwin Edwards). The Board was not satisfied to see these men standing behind the essentiality of their jobs Avliile married men Avere going overseas. He added; that the responsibility was now on the company to stress the urgency of the position to the District Manpower Officer. '■V Board's Decision Sine, die adjournments were granted in the cases of E. B. Lufit (lstt assistant), C. T. Malpas (head cream grader), E. Becker (key man in all •departments), M. N. Bright (lorry driver), P. McGillan (lorry driver), Mm. J. Taylor (lorry driver), A. E. B. Guptill (lorry driver), providing all remained in their present employment and continued to serve [ in the Home Guard. W.?th regard to E. P. Dodunski (4th assistant) and E. R. Neilscn (churn-man) and E. F. J. Wigg (cream grader) all single, three months adjournment Avas granted in which to find other men to rc.pjafoe them. The cases of H. S. McKenzic. (general assistant), E. M. Mcllae (milftt . tester), R. Meredith (general assistant), A. P. Watson (general assis-< tant) and A. M. N. Wisnewski (general assitant.), all single men, the appeals were adjourned till the end of May to enable replacements to be made. The appeals by the company for A. S. Butcher and D. W. Dodds were withdrawn by consent. Mr Blair asked if there waSl any other agencies for the purpose of obtaining labour other than the Manpower Officer or the employment of \vomc.n. Mr Wilton stated that a new rc-> gister had been drawn up and young women Avere allocated to various industrial establishments 1 . He thought the company could get assistance in that direction.