INDUSTRIAL MAN POWER

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL MAN POWER

The Industrial Man Power Committee— Messrs M. Grantham (chairman), S. D. Macpherson, and H. H. Gillard—heard number of appeals against the decision or direction of the, industrial man power officer (Mr E. A. Selman), who was in attendance. In the appeal of Thomas McDowell against direction from employment with the Dunedin City Corporation (reserves department) to Palmer’s Quarries Ltd., Logan Point, appellant’s objection was based on health reasons. The man power officer’s report was to the effect that labour at the quarries was difficult to secure. They had been declared an essential industry and were working a 48 hours’ week, wages being £6 17s. “ The beauty of the city, although very necessary,” said Mr Selman, “ was not essential war work.” The appeal was allowed, but appellant was directed to report to Reid and Gray Ltd., Burnside, as a labourer. OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN. Thomas McKessar, who also appealed on the grounds of ill-health against the direction from employment with the Dunedin City Corporation to Glendermid Ltd., Sawyers Bay, had his appeal allowed. A medical certificate as to the state of appellant’s health had been received by the man power officer after the direction was made. He consequently withdrew his opposition to .the appeal. REGULATIONS FLOUTED. Robert Mclntyre, secretary of the Otago, Labourers’ Union appeared on behalf of James Austin McKenzie, who appealed against direction from employment with the City Corporation to Palmer’s Quarries Ltd. The appeal was based on the grounds of hardship -and economic reasons. It was stated that McKenzie had lately obtained a position for himself with Stevenson and Cook Ltd., Port Chalmers. In his opinion Mr Mclntyre said that the man was rendering a valuable service where he was a*- present, and it would be a waste of appellant’s and everyone else’s time to employ him at quarry work. The man power officer stressed the extreme necessity of keeping the quarries fully staffed, and said McKenzie could not be allowed to flout the regulations by accepting employment as- he liked. Mr Mclntyre did not agree that the man power committees were working on a proper basis yet, and said that until they could get some law where a man could not get employment without first approaching the man power officer the unsatisfactory condition as mentioned would continue. The appeal was allowed, with the provision that the appellant should continue to work in an essential industry as approved by the man power' officer. OTHER APPEALS. Alan Bruce Grant, appealed against refusal of permission to terminate his employment with the New, Zealand Railways. —The appeal was’ disallowed, the appellant having been provided by the department with suitable work. Decision in the appeal of L. C. VVybrow against the direction from employment with the Dunedin Engineering and Steel Co. Ltd. to Messrs Hogg and Co., sawmillers, Tahakopa, was reserved. The Taieri County Council appealed against , the direction of an employee, Thomas McLeary, to accept employment with Reid and Gray Ltd., Burnside. Mr S. Riach. clerk to the Taieri County Council, said that McLeary was the only surfaceman left in the riding, and if his services were lost there was no possibility of him being replaced. Trevor James Gray, manager of Reid and Gray Ltd., explained that they were badly in need of labour, and tried in every direction to get. help. The appeal was allowed.