CONFLICTING CLAIMS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 6

CONFLICTING CLAIMS

Army, Essential Work And Civil Occupation MANPOWER COMMITTEE’S PROBLEM

"Do you mean to say that if this tribunal decides that this man is essential in his civilian job the Army will call him up, as a C 3 man, for alternative service and send him possibly just as a clerk, into an Army headquarters?” asked Mr. B. L. Hammond, a member of the .Manpower Industrial Committee, during the hearing of an appeal in Wellington yesterday. The appeal was by the firm of S. George Nathan, Ltd., against a direction bv the district manpower officer, ■Wellington,, that Mr. 11. A. Wiffin, the firm’s accountant of 25 years’ standing, should join the Department of Industries and Commerce in the capacity of clerk.

In his evidence to the committee, Mr. Wifiin bad stated that the assistant district manpower officer had told him in an interview that if he failed to oliey the direction of the manpower officer and join the department he would lie called up for alternative service with the Army. The district manpower officer explained that when the Army authorities were considering the posting of C 3 men to clerical and other duties with the forces, they first submitted a list to the district manpower officer so that he could indicate those whose capabilities suggested they would lie more useful in civil occupations and might best be retained in or directed to essential employment. In this particular case Mr. Wiffin had been directed to an essential occupation. "Unless he goes to that occupation,” said the district manpower officer, “it will be my duty to inform the Army authorities that he is available for calling up for alternative service.” “That might amount to the thwarting of the decision of this tribunal,” declared Mr. Hammond. He pointed out that what it amounted to was that the Army authorities would be prepared to forgo the calling up of Mr. Wiffin if he took up employment with the Government department, but if the tribunal decided Mr. Wiffin should remain with S. G. Nathan, Ltd., he might be immediately called up by the Army, and there would be no appeal against that call.

“That is the position,” agreed the district manpower officer. "The time for any appeal by Mr. Wiffin or his employer'against the military call-up has expired." The committee later announced its decision disallowing the appeal of S. G. Nathan, Ltd., and upholding the district manpower officer's direction that Mr. Wiffin should join the Department of Industries and Commerce.