LEFT ESSENTIAL WORK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 48, 11 February 1944, Page 5

LEFT ESSENTIAL WORK

LOCAL EMPLOYEE FINED

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Having misrepresented to his employer that he had urgent business! to attend to in the South Island and obtained by this means ten days leave, Ivan James Martin who had been manpowered into the position as boot repairer for Messrs Hannah's Ltd., Whakatane, failed to return and was subsequently discovered in a business of his own in Culverden. The result of his action was the first prosecution case of its kind to be heard in Whakatane at the instigation of the Manpower Officclr. Mir A. W. Cordon (Rotorua) represented tile Manpower Olfieer, and stated that Martin was in camp at the time when Whakatane was extremely short of boot repairers and had expressed his willingness to go there as an employee of Messrs Hannail's Ltd. to relieve the position. He had been released from camp accordingly but shortly after applied lor a transfer to Culverden where a business had been offered him. This had been refused. Later however lie had prevailed upon his employees to grant him leave to go south on urgent business, and had failed to return. He had subsequently been found in Culverden in the very business which hi; had been refused the right to purchase.

Counsel added that Llie boot repairing position 111 Whakatane had improved somewhat since defendant was here, and it was not contended that, he should' be ordered back. The. manpower officer however contended thai he should be prosecuted for his deliberate breach of the regulations. The local manager of Messrs Hannah's Ltd. gave evidence.. The magistrate (Mr F. L. Walton): You say you don't want him back again ? Mr (Gordon: No, the position has eased considerably since then. Defendant was lined £5 and costs amounting to £1 10s.