REORGANIZATION SCHEME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1939, Page 8

REORGANIZATION SCHEME

LABOUR EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. NUMBER OF MEN DISMISSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association ) WELLINGTON, This Day. Consequent on the reorganisation of the Employment Division of the Labour Department and its amalgamation with the Pensions Department to form the new Social Security Department, numbers of employees throughout New Zealand have been given notice of the termination of their employment. Of the Wellington staff, 10 received notice yesterday and similar reductions are contemplated in the other centres. ' The official explanation is that the rearrangement of the departments has resulted in a surplus of staff over requirements, and that, where employees have been found to be no longer required or not up to standard, their services have been dispensed with. These employees, it is stated, will be transferred to other departments if vacancies exist and, when future vacancies occur, will be considered for these positions.

The Pensions Department has not lost any staff through the amalgamation of the departments, the explanation being that the Pensions Department has practically no casual staff, whereas the Employment Division of the Labour Department is composed largely of casual workers.

The Public Service Commossioner, Mr T. Mark, was reticent when questioned last night as to the extent of the dismissals throughout New Zealand. He did not deny that 10 employees in Wellington had received notice and said that the numbers varied in the other centres.

. Asked whether further dismissals were contemplated, Mr Mark said that it was within the bounds of possibility. “The whole thing is in the melting pot,” he added. “The Social Security Department requires an entirely new organisation and you can’t make an omelette without breaking .eggs. Some of these employees, unfortunately for them, are the eggs.”