WORKERS WARNED

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 7

WORKERS WARNED

ABSENTEEISM OR SLACKNESS Mr M. W. Grantham (chairman), at the meeting of the Industrial Man Power Committee yesterday afternoon, drew attention to the powers which had been vested in the man power officer concerning workers reported for absenteeism and unsatisfactory work. The matter arose from an appeal by a youth against the refusal of the district man power officer, Mr E. A. Selman, to permit him to terminate his engagement with a firm carrying on essential work. Mr Grantham appealed to workers to put aside personal feelings when it was a question of keeping machinery operating in the interests of the war effort. Mr S. M. Sparrow and Mr H. H. Gillard were the other members of the committee which sat yesterday. George William Outsell, aged 17, appealed against refusal of permission to leave the employ ot Messrs Mackintosh Caley Phcenix Ltd. —Mr W. G. Keid, secretary of the firm, stressed the difficulty which was being experienced in obtaining and training suitable workers.—After further evidence Outsell was directed to continue working for the firm The Chairman said he was solely concerned with the maintenance of output in essential work, and personal feelings must be put aside. ; Messrs McLeod Brothers Ltd. appealed against a decision to grant an employee, Cecil Rhodes Hedges, permission to terminate his engagement. —Mr J. Hogg, general manager of the firm, said that if the committee held that Hedges should leave his company’s employ for health reasons, he would not object, bub would appreciate Hedges remaining with the firm for a short period until his replacement was arranged. —The firm’s appeal was disallowed, but Mr Hogg’s suggestion is to be carried out. The Savoy Ltd. appealed against a decision to grant an employee, Miss M, E. O’Neill, permission to leave its employ.— Miss O’Neill said that she had been only temporarily engaged pending her taking up other work, but in the meantime tea rooms and restaurants had been declared essential undertakings.—The appeal was disallowed.

Herbert Swanson Anderson appealed against a direction to accept employment with the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board.' Anderson’s employer, Mr A. S. McConnachie, a cartage contractor, also appealed against the direction. Mr It. C. Rutherford appeared for both appellants.—Anderson gave evidence regarding the undue hardship which would follow from his taking up the stipulated work, while McConnachie said that ho was associated with essential industries and that Anderson was irreplaceable.—Mr F C. Laidlaw, superintendent of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board; said that great difficulty was being experienced in filling vacancies on the staff, and that it was necessary to maintain the fire service with a full permanent staff. —Decision was reserved.