MAN-POWER APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1944, Page 3

MAN-POWER APPEAL

DIRECTION AS DRIVER

T. O. Maddison, formerly a taxidriver, today appealed against the direction of the district man-power officer, Wellington, to work as a truck driver with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The appeal, was heard by the Wellington Industrial Man-power Committee, Messrs. J. J. Scott (chairman), P. Coyle (employers' representative), and J. Arthurs (workers' representative). Mr. D. R. Rankin, representing the man-power officer, explained that the direction was to the physical laboratory at Hutt, a job that must be filled. Dr. E. R. Cooper, representing the Department, said that the job consisted in the transport of materials and equipment, mostly scientific apparatus, which might be for the Armed Forces,, the Munitions Controller, or for various industries- throughout New Zealand. It was a full-time job. The appellant said that he was making his appeal in the public interest and in his own interest. His appeal on a former occasion had not been fully heard. There were interests which were not taken into account." All these matters had been considered at the former hearing, the chairman said. The appellant's qualifying experience was definitely considered, as well as his activities in certain other directions, including political matters. There did hot appear to be any reason to go into that. . The appellant stressed the advisability of a man being directed to work which he was willing to do. Willing men for this work were available. Had the man-power officer made any attempt to find them? "A large section of the public has come to believe that the regulations are bing used as a political weapon," he continued. "You have the safeguard of appeal," said Mr. Scott. "The appointment of the Appeal Board is the probf of that. Perhaps you will go further, and say that the Appeal Board is also tied up in the same way?" "You place me in a very invidious position," replied Maddison. "The board is appointed by the Minister of Man-power?" Mr. Scott: Yes. ■Mr. Arthurs: Are you bringing up the authority of the Minister in the appointment of this board? Maddison: I am. not questioning his legal'authority. It is enormous. The principle on which the board is appointed is, however, not stated. Mr. Scott said that the board had been appointed for four years. Maddison said that the board was appointed by the same person. The chairman said that the matter of political bias did not enter into the proceedings. It was not because appellant had peculiar ideas that he was taken out of a taxi job and sent somewhere else. Appellant was attempting t get in a certain amount, of propaganda. Hs had had a fair hearing at i xae last appearance, and the only point I was. should be now be sent to. the j place he had been directed to? , Madison said that he had advertised lor a man to do work under similar terms and conditions as the job -to which he had been directed, and he had received ten replies, including some from returned soldiers who had the experience and were willing to do the job. No attempt had been made to contact these men. Asked by the man-power officer what these men had been doing, appellant said that he did not know. Mr. Rankin: That is the answer to the whole question. The shortage of drivers was not nearly so great as it used to be. At no time had these men asked the man-power officer for a driving job. Decision was reserved.