MAN POWER COMMITTEE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1940, Page 4

MAN POWER COMMITTEE

POSITION AS TO APPEALS MADE CLEAR. We have been requested by Mr S. R. Gawith, who appeared as counsel in a number of appeals at a recent sitting of the Man Power Committee, to make the position clear to the public. Mr Gawith states that our published report of the proceedings does not give the public an opportunity of judging the merit of an appeal. He considers that in fairness to all appellants the short facts should be given. In all the cases in which Mr Gawith appeared he states that not in one instance was the appeal made by the reservist called up for military duties, but that in each and every case there was an appeal lodged by either the employer or the parent employer for an extension of time for a specified period. The request is considered by the Man Power Committee who decide the matter by granting the request or otherwise. It can fairly be assumed that where the request has been granted that it was a reasonable one. In all cases the reservists themselves have not only not appealed but are ready and willing to perform their military duties, but in the cases in which appeals are made by the employers or parents and granted it must be considered that it is reasonable for the reservist to be retained for a period. Mr Gawith feels it his duty on behalf of his own clients and other appellants that this explanation should be made.