MEN FROM PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 203, 25 May 1944, Page 4

MEN FROM PACIFIC

Release For Specified Industries A statement that the men being returned from the Pacific for employment on farms and in other allied industries of high priority could not be released for other employment was'made yesterday by the Minister of National Service. Mr. McLagian. He said that numerous requests were being received by his department from employers for the return of men to their previous employment. The Minister said that authority could not be given for the return of any of these men to their pre-service jobs, as they were being released from the Army solely on the condition that they took up work on farms and in the other industries concerned, namely, coal mining, sawmilling, dairy factories, freezing works, railways and building and construction. As already announced, there were insufficient experienced workers available for release from the Pacific to meet the estimated requirements of some of the priority industries concerned, and it was therefore necessary to provide for men without experience to volunteer for employment in these industries to make .up the quotas required. Consequently, there would be men returning as volunteers for farm and other work who were previously employed in a wide variety of jobs—many of which were declared essential works. There would be civil servants, bank clerks, shop assistants, and others, who had now volunteered and been brought back to New Zealand specifically for other employment in the industries concerned in the general drive for increased primary production. This work was an alternative to further military service in the meantime, and there was no provision for the -return of these men to their pre-service employment, whether or not it was classed as essential work for manpower purposes. Also, there was no appeal procedure open to employers for the return of these men. “I would remind these employers, said the Minister, “that, if these men had not volunteered for and been brought back for this special work, they would have remained in the Army overseas and would not in any case have ben available for return to their old jobs, and employers are therefore not being deprived of any staff that thev would otherwise nave had. Also, in the event of anv of the men refusing to undertake the work for which they have volunteered, they are immediately remobilized so that other men may be released for this work.”