MEN FOR INDUSTRY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32300, 16 August 1943, Page 5

MEN FOR INDUSTRY

CONFERENCE IN PAEROA UTILISATION COMMITTEE , \ ASSISTANCE TO APPEAL BOARD A combined meeting of representatives of the Armed Forces Appeal Board, Thames Primary Production Council, Motor Trades Utilisation Committee, Road Transport Utilisation Committee and Engineers’ Utilisation Committee, was held at Paeroa recently. ’ Present: Messrs E. Edwards (chairman, Armed Forces Appeal Board), E. J. Wilton (Armed Forces Appeal Board), J. Poland (Armed Forces Appeal Board), A. Ripley (secretary, Armed Forces Appeal Board), W. Price (Engineers’ Utilisation Committee), J. Peebles (Engineers’ Utilisation Committee); Lieut. Gandy (Motor Trades Utilisation Committee), Mr G. Mincher (Motor Trades Utilisation Committee), J. K. McLean (Engineers’ and Motor Trades Utilisation Committee), C. C. Webb (Road Transport), A. J. Rushbrooke (Road Transport), S. Hall (chairman, Thames Primary Production Council), J. E. Green (secretary, Primary Production Council), R. W. Chappell (District Man-Power Officer and chairman), (Motor Trades, Engineers and Transport), Utilisation Committees) and C. G.. Warren (assistant District Man-Power Officer).

In opening the meeting the chairman, Mr R. W. Chappell reviewed the work of the various committees since their commencement. Mr Chappell laid stress on the thorough and conscientious manner in which the committees had carefully investigated every case' before any recommendation had been given to the Armed Forces Appeal Board regarding the appeals against military service. Various other matters within the jurisdiction of the utilisation committees was also discussed dealing in the main endeavour of the control of manpower. Motor Trades Position Mr Chappell referred to Mr Grant, representative of the New Zealand Railways, the Transport Utilisation Committee who sincerely regretted that it was not possible for him' to be present at the meeting, also the regrets' of Mr Morley and Mr Mitchell neither of whom were able to be present. Mr G. Mincher stated that in his opinion good and valuable work had •been done by the committees. All cases brought before the Motor Trades Utilisation 'Committee had been thoroughly investigated and a sincere recommendation in all cases had been made to the appeal board. He considered the time taken up 'by the committee had been well spent and was of value to the trade generally.. He recently attended a meeting of the Motor Trades Utilisation 'Committee and had been asked to convey to the chairman, Mr R. W. Chappell appreciation of the association for the courtesy which had been given at all times; Most Essential Industries Mr S. E. Hall, Primary Production Council, stated that he considered his council represented the most essential industry in New Zealand to-day. There were continual calls for more production and more men were needed on farms throughout the district. He considered that the farming industry had had a fair deal from the appeal board and in almost every case their recommendations to the board had been accepted. Mr W. price, Engineers’ Utilisation Committee, also considered that reasonable treatment had been received from the appeal board at all times and the firms’ viewpoint had always been seen in regard to really essential men. Another 100 men could be utilised in the engineering trade in the district and the hours now being worked by the men were too long. The result of this was that the men were not fit for the new day’s work and it also accounted for the increased number of accidents. However, it was the only way to cope with the vast amount of war work. The Engineers’ Utilisation Committee was satisfied with the treatment it had received from the Appeal Board and the consideration their recommendations had received. Problems of Transport Mr C. €. Webb, Road Transport Utilisation Committee, stated that in addition to being” a member of the Utilisation Committee he was also president of the Thames Valley Carriers’ Association. Great trouble was being experienced in keeping the fleets on the road. Difficulty had previously been experienced owing to th? shortage of drivers and this had new been

increased by the shortage of mechanics. With the long hours now being worked and the restrictions on the import of new trucks more repair work was now needed to keep the trucks on the road. The garages are unable to handle the work on account ■of the shortage of men and spare parts. In many cases the parts have to be specially made. He suggested a meeting should be held of the Motor' Trades Utilisation Committee in conjunction with the Garage Proprietors’ Association to discuss the problems of the trade owing to the shortage of mechanics.

Many small garages had closed down and this made it necessary for trucks to travel long distances to be repaired. With regard to appeal cases placed 'before the committee he considered the decisions had not been made lightly and sincere consideration had been given in every case. He endorsed the remarks of previous speakers in that fair treatment had been received from the Armed Forces Appeal Board, in every case. Mechanics Very Scarce

Mr J. K. McLean, spoke as a member of the Engineers’ and Motor Trades Utilisation Committees. He endorsed the remarks made by the previous speakers and stressed the seriousness of taking more men from industry to the Armed Forces. He particularly stressed the shortage of mechanics and pointed out that there were only three A grade men in the garages in Thames. They were definitely unable to cope with the amount of necessary and Essential work.

Lieut. Gandy stated he represented the Army and also the Motor Trades Utilisation Committee and had tried to give fair consideration to both sides. He realised the shortage of men in the motor industry and stated that there was actually no surplus in the M.T. workshops. He had recently returned from Whangarei where 55 men were employed in the workshops but of this number only six could in his opinion be classed as mechanics. ■Calls had been made on the Army to release men for the Air Force and Navy and with several of the units closing down more work would fall to the workshops. Under these conditions he felt that the Army must endeavour to retain trained men who were now held in the workshops. Task of Appeal Board Mr Edwin Edwards, chairman of the Armed Forces Appeal Board, stated that a large extent his board acted, as a butt between the Armed Forces and industry. His board had been dealing with appeals for the past three to three and a-half years and when the various utilisation committees had been .formed they had proved of great assistance to the board. Prior to this the board had endeavoured to request the employers to get together and give information to enable the board to know how many men could be released. The members of his board felt that as laymen they were unable to act for all the various industries and trades and they had endeavoured to learn as much as possible regarding the conditions in which the men were employed. With this in mind they had investigated various mines, foundries, sawmills, paper' mills, dairy and cheese factories, etc., so as to get a general insight into the conditions. They found, however, that the investigations made through the various utilisation committees which were comprised of men who thoroughly understood the particular industry had yielded excellent results. In some cases the recommendation of the committee may not have been acted upon, but very often information was available to the board regarding other circumstances, family matters, etc., which must be taken into consideration and which was not known to the committee. Help From Councillors The committees as a whole had been wonderfully helpful and he felt that every case had been investigated as thoroughly as possible. It was a big job and in his opinion it was a long way from finished. Primary production was of paramount importance at the present time and he realised that farmers throughout the district were working shorthanded and in many cases women with children were assisting in the sheds. These conditions were not desirable and. it was of vital importance to get more, men on to the land. He mentioned the cases of men oged 40 to 46 who had retired and put sharemilkers'on to their farms. This state of affairs was not viewed favourably by the board Jhd he would | suggest, that the Primary Production •i Council should investigate these cases

and when possible make recommendations. As far as the Motor Trades Utilisation Committee was concerned every recommendation they made had been accepted by the board. The members of the committee had done their job thoroughly and this was a very satisfactory position. Most Helpful The Engineers’ Utilisation Committee had also (been most helpful and their recommendations had made the work of the board much easier. The board had endeavoured to retain experienced men in essential industries and in some cases their decision had been more than the committee had asked for. They had worked very harmoniously together with the board right through the piece and in most cases the recommendation had been accepted by the -board. The Road Transport Utilisation Committee had a very difficult job as many of the younger drivers had enlisted in the early stages of the war and had not been considered essential and allowed to go. Conditions had got worse owing to the age and conditions of the trucks and he stressed the need for experienced drivers and mechanics to he retained in this industry. The recommendations made by the committee had never been treated lightly and in almost every case had been accepted by the board. ■Speaking generally the work of the committees had -been of tremendous assistance. The board was always ready to listen to any recommendation that may be brought forward and

vere always ready to meet any representatives of the committees and would if necessary, where further information was available, re-open a case. -He expressed his thanks to the District Man-Power Officer and staff for their help and co-operation at all times. Reports from this source had been most helpful and much valuable information supplied. He was pleased with the work of the board and he assured those present that the decisions had not been lightly arrived at. Members were never influenced by any personal friendships and they had endeavoured to give a fair and reasonable decision in every case. He hoped that the good work of the various committees would continue. The war must be won and men must be placed where they were most needed. Work Of Mr Ripley Reference was made to the excellent work of Mr Ripley as secretary to the Armed Forces Appeal 'Board since its commencement in 1940. The tremendous task had been one which called for efficient office control in the handling of appeals. Mr Ripley spoke in reply on the excellent co-operation existing between his office and the office of the District Man-Power Officer and with the Military Authorities. The endeavour was to handle problems efficiently and every endeavour had been made to treat all cases in a fair manner. Supper was then served and the meeting was thrown open for general informal discussion.