MEN DISMISSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1941, Page 6

MEN DISMISSED

FROM HARBOUR BOARD STAFF. REPRESENTATIONS TO BE MADE TO MINISTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 4. About 12, members of the maintenance staff of the Lyttelton Harbour Board today received notice of termination of employment as part, it is understood, of a move for retrenchment. As a result the Lyttelton branch of the Harbours Employees’ Union held a stopwork meeting from 1 p.m. till 2.15 p.m. to consider the position, and all work on the waterfront was held up during that time. The meeting decided to make urgent representations to the Minister of Labour, Mr Web'b, the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, and to the Prime Minister asking them to intercede. Notices of dismissal were sent to each man by registered letter signed by the secretary-engineer, Mr P. W. Fryer. The letters informed the men that the notice would take effect as from October 31 but that, as some consideration would be given to retiring leave, the board would reserve the right to revise the time-of termination of each man’s employment. An undertaking was also given to try to obtain employment for each man with other local bodies.

One employee to receive notice, in addition to those on the maintenance staff, was the signalman at the Timcball station. This is taken as an indication that the board intends to close down the station. A protest against this action is to be made by the Waterside Workers’ Union. Some of the men concerned have more' than 20 years’ service, and two have 24 years’ service each. It is understood that no crane drivers were dismissed.