APPEALS BY BANK CLERKS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 4

APPEALS BY BANK CLERKS

Direction To Sugar Works

MEN RELEASED FROM ARMY Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, May 9.

Appeals by two bank clerks, both grade I medically and married with three children, against their direction as labourers to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Limited, were heard by the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee. The Bank of New Zealand also appealed in each case. The men were released from the army for direction to essential work of , high priority, said the manpower officer’s representative. Mr. R. Lydford. Men in their category were given three options, to volunteer for overseas service, to remain in the army and serve anywhere in the country, or to accept release lor essential work. The two appellants had signed forms to the effect that they would accept essential work. “I considered it was the usual army option of no option at ull,” said one of the appellants, N. 11. Hume. who added that he had not understood the conditions when he signed the form, but thought he would return to his former employment with the bank. He ha-.i thought the men concerned were to be released in any case. He had been a bank clerk for 20 years. The other appellant, M. H. Churtpn, denied that any explanation that they were to be directed to essential work of high priority was made to them when the forms were signed. He had been with the Bank of New Zealand since 1927. Evidence of staffing difficulties was given by the managers of the two branch banks concerned. At the outbreak of the war the Queen Street branch had 166 male members on the staff and 10 women. In May of last year the staff was 79 men and 78 women. The men had been still further reduced by retirements and resignations due to ill-health. There was extra work involved at present in dealing with American currency, while meat rationing accounted for the fulltime employment of one girl and the employment of a man for half his time. In the Newmarket branch there was a staff of eight men in 1939 and there was now a staff of five men and five girls, but the amount of business had increased by three times on the 1939 figure.

The appeals lodged by the bank were allowed in each case.