NOT REINSTATED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 12

NOT REINSTATED

CASE OF TERRITORIALS

EMPLOYERS ARE FINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Failure by D. P. Fisher, Limited, piston and ring manufacturers, to reinstate two employees at the •conclusion of their territorial military service, resulted in their conviction by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. In a reserved decision given in the Magistrates' Court to-day, tne magistrate commented that in one instance the defendant firm attempted to punish a young lad whose only fault was a keen and commendable desire to make himself an efficient citizen and soldier, and that in the other Instance it had attempted to discredit a youth as a workman, in order to evade its responsibilities under the regulations. The first instance, Mr. Luxford said, called for a substantial penalty, and he imposed a fine of £20, and also ordered payment of six weeks' wages at 32/6, and payment of costs of the information. The lad, T. K. Needham, was a volunteer member of the Territorial Force, who was ordered to report for mobilisation training, and who applied for reinstatement the day following the completion of his military duties. He was told that the matter would be considered, and was later informed that the firm would not reinstate him. In the other case, a fine of £10 was imposed and defendant was ordered to pay three weeks' wages and costs. The magistrate remarked that the fact that the man obtained employment at a higher wage three weeks after his discharge from the Army did not minimise defendant's offence.