SHEARERS RETAINED

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1940, Page 2

SHEARERS RETAINED

^ f MANPOWER DECISIONS One of the first big tasks tackled by the Hawkes Bay manpower committee was the compilatlon of a list of shearers, and as the result of the co-operation of all concerned, some assurance can now be given that for the comlng season th'ere will not be a drain on shearers as the result of enlistments in the overseas military forces or the territorials going lnto camp. Commenting on the position, Mr. G. A. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, chairman of the committee, said that it was fully realised that there would have to be retained in the district as many shearers as possible if the full results of the district's increased war efforts of production were to be realised. Unfortunately, quite a number of shearers left with the first and second echelons before the manpower committee could operate efflciently, but since then the Sheepowners' Federation, the Farmers' Union and the union secretaries, in particular, have been able to compile a substantial list of shearers from Eketahuna to * 'airoa, whose postponement of entry lnto service with the territorials or overseas forces will be made possible in the meantime to ensure that the district's requirements are fulfilled. Mr. Maddison indicated that many appeals had been made by shearers to the committee objecting to their not being allowed to enter military service, but he felt sure that the majority of the men accepted the committee's decision because they realised that their services were just as valuable to the needs of Great Britain and New Zealand's war efforts as were those of the men in khaki. There was brought under the notice of the committee at its last meeting, said Mr. Maddison, a case of an employer who had threatened not to re-employ one member of his staff who is shortly to go into a territorial camp. Mr. Maddison pointed out that the Act was quite clear on the point and states that employers must re-employ men on their return from military service. Any neglect on the part of employers in this respect wa^ a serious offence. Mr. Maddison said that that particular case was being watcliecl, and a report had been made to the Governmcnt. If the firm in question insisted on its present at-titude, then undoubtedly prosecution would follow.