DECISION COUNTERED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 86, 2 July 1943, Page 5

DECISION COUNTERED

LOCAL GIRL'S OBJECTION

INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER CASK

Declaring that she had 1 no desire to undertake nursing work in the Whakatane Hospital and further that in spite of the direction of the Manpower Officer she had no intention of going there, a local young woman, Miss M. C. Trow, vigorously opposed this decision at the sitting of the Industrial Manpower Committee at Whakatane last Wednesday. The chairman, Mr J. O. Liddoll, said that she- had boon directed to go as a nursing akl only and would not therefore he required to fulfil actual nursing. The appellant declared that she was not suited to the work, in fact was definitely opposed to it as an occupation. ' She was fully occupied as! it was and asked if the committee had power to make her go if she. did not wish to. Mr Liddell used persuasion and kindly argument all to no avail. Mr McGlonc said that the hospital was desperately short of aids; and he had been forced to direct, girls from standing employment in order to meet the demand. The appeal was dismissed. Appellant: I refuse 1 to go to tUo hospital. Mr Liddelil: I strongly advise you to try it at any rate. Shop Assistant's Case Patterson's Bargain Stores (Mr B. S. Barry) appealed against a similar direction, to Miss J. M. Fife. Mr J. Patterson in evidence stated that the case was the first for which tlic firm had entered an appeal, in spite of the fact that no less than 13 members of the staff of. the three firm's three shops had left to join the Armed Forces. The Bargain Stores was already understaffed and it was. impossible to replace the girls to-day. The Manpower Officer, Mr McGJone, said, that the hospital had requisitioned for three nursing aids. He had supplied the three names, and there were two appeals.

The chairman said he realised only too well the difficulties of business firms these days but it was, necessary to maintain the essential services and that was the job. The decision was reserved for consideration.