BOOTMAKER'S APPEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 9

BOOTMAKER'S APPEAL.

A CURIOUS POSITION.

A curious position arose when the appeal of an Auckland boot operative, Albert E. Rees (CI), Remuera (Mr. McLiver), came before the First Auckland Military Service Board, and a number of boot manufacturers were present. Appellant, on his papers, simply asked for sufficient time to wind up his affairs, Counsel said he proposed to Show that the Efficiency Board of the boot manufacturing trade considered Rees to be oiio of the most essential men in the business in the North Island. Major Conlan objected to this, and said there was no appeal except on the private grounds. Mr. Trenwith, the employer of the man, was not supporting the appeal, and ho could not see how other manufacturers were so concerned. Mr. McLiver said ho had written the Director of Recruiting, Betting out additional grounds of public interest, but no reply was to hand. Tho employer in this instance had publicly staled that ho did not intend to appeal for any employees, and therefore did not feel justified in supporting the application. As a matter of fact, Mr. Trenwith was a man who could close his factory and was quite independent as regards his employees. Counsel thought that the employer had a duty to the public, and tliis man was essential to the industry, as other manufacturers would testify. Major Conlan strongly objected to what he described as "back-door" methods of forcing an employer, and said the attempt to obtain the exemption behind the employer was entirely unwarranted. The Act specifically stated that the only persons having tho right of appeal were the employees, and employers on their behalf; hut, of course, whero public interest was involved, the position was different. Major Conlan said he wanted Mr. Trenwith present if the appeal was to be heard as he had some confidence in bis attitude. Tho Board decided that it had no appeal but the private one before it. On the application of counsel the case was adjourned till the 27th inst., to enable the appeal to be presented in order lo the Board.