TRANSFER OF WORKER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 13, 11 October 1943, Page 6

TRANSFER OF WORKER

Powers Of Public Service Commissioner The opinion, that it was wrong for the Public Service Commissioner to have the power to transfer a man released from the armed forces for a specific job to any department be desired was expressed by Mr. B. L. Hammond, a member of the Wellington Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee, during the hearing on Friday of an appeal by F. G. Hally, Public Works employee, against the decision of the manpower officer refusing to terminate his employment with the Ministry of Supply. Apellant said he was grade two and had entered camp in August, 1941. He was released in February, 1942, on the application of the Public Works Department for a special construction job in the islands. After his return he remained with the department till a month ago, when he had been transferred by the Public Service Commissioner to the Ministry of Supply. He considered that he was totally unsuited for his present position, in addition to which there was not sufficient work to keep him occupied for more than a quarter of his time. The manjiower officer in the district he had last been stationed after returning from the islands had not been notified of the transfer, and he (appellant) had no right of appeal. “I think I should be returned to the army. I am a single man with no dependants.” ’

The chairman, Mr. J. J. Scott, said the manpower authorities desired the release of grade two men from the army for industry. The committee had no power to direct a man back to the army. Mr. S. Swift, representing the manpower officer, explained that the Public Service, as a whole, had been declared essential, and it was competent for the Public Service Commissioner to make transfers from department to department without reference to the manpower officer. It was considered that the Public Service Commissioner was the best judge of the requirements of the departments. Such a practice undermined the work of the armed forces appeal board, which released a man in accordance with specific representations, said Mr. Hammond. This was wrong. When a man was released from the army he came under the jurisdiction of the manpower officer. In the present appeal a procedure has been adopted which took the men concerned out of the hands of the manpower officer and allowed the Public Service Commissioner to deal with him as he pleased. For the Ministry of Supply, Mr. A. Flauntey said that it was understaffed. Appellant had been a clerk in the Public Works Department and was considered suitable for the Ministry of Supply. He had had to learn some of the work, but he was reported to be making excellent progress. With reference to the complaint of not sufficient work, Mr. Flanntey said the work of the department was spasmodic because of the shipping position, but slack times were offset by pressure on other occasions. Appellant could also have drawn the attention of his supervisor if he ran out of work. To Mr. Scott, appellant said he had not done any overtime. Tile appeal was dismissed.