SHORTAGE OF LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

Southland Times, Issue 24887, 29 October 1942, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

County Staff Greatly Reduced A serious shortage of experienced local body officers exists, according to evidence given before the Southland Armed Forces Appeal Board last night by the clerk of the Southland County Council (Mr H. C. Gimblett). He appeared in support of several appeals for employees of the council. Before the war, he said, there had been 10 male clerks on the clerical staff and at busy times extra clerks had been engaged. There were now only three male clerks and two juniors and no casuals could be secured. His own work had been expanded by heavy E.P.S. duties as county controller. The Crown representative (Mr J. W. Hinchey) asked if it would not be better if another man was engaged to do the E.P.S. work and leave Mr Gimblett free to do work normally done by the assistant county clerk. That had been done in Invercargill. Mr Gimblett said the county E.P.S. organization was extensive with 67 suborganizations. Local body work had to go on. The county staff was actually preparing balance-sheets for the Lumsden Town Board, which had been left inadequately staffed. Appeals for Bruce Noble, assistant county clerk and accountant, R. C. Rea, assistant engineer, and D. J. Thomas, contractor, were adjourned sine die.