EMPLOYERS MUST APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2958, 22 December 1916, Page 8

EMPLOYERS MUST APPEAL

FOR EXEMPTION OF MEN IN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES. ; By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland December 21. That it is the duty of employers to appeal for exemption serJ vico of workers in essential industries , who may be called up or who volunteer for active service was definitely laid down to-day by the Acting-Prime Minister and by the Hon. A. M. Myers. Both Ministers wero question- , ed on tho point, particularly in [ view of a discussion upon it, which [ took placo at Huntly on Wednesday [ last. There, at a sitting of the Military Service Board there, was some [ controversy as to whether in tho case of a coalraincr the man himself or' his | employer should make the appeal for exemtpion. "I look upon it as the ] duty of tho employer in coal-mining or : any other essential industry which must bo kept going, to watch the gazetted lists of names of men called ; up by ballot, and send in an appeal in , every case of an employee whom ho | coniders is needed in the industry," said Mr. Allen. ■■ We havo given employers '. the necessary authority under the Act , to do this, and I invite them to care- , fully watch tho lists, and if any of their employees are drawn to exercise their own discretion, and if they deem the services of those men as urgently . required to send in a notice of ap- [ peal." The Minister went on to em- . .phasiso the point that unless tho balbotted man or his employer or any • person authorised to do so appealed for [ exemption his case would not come be- , fore the Military Service Board at all, . and_he would be called up for active i service The Government- was anxious , to avoid unnecessary appeals, but at tho same time wanted to give full opportunity for exemption ' appeals for , men employed in essential'industries to ' bo sent. in. Withthis object, author- ', ity_ had been given secretaries of labour , unions to appeal on behalf of balloted , men who might have no definite em- , ployer, such as ships' firemen and , cooks, seamen, slaughtermen, and . shearers. In such cases union secre- ,> taries were lokedupon as the'employ- . ers for the purposes of. appeal.