TRANSPORT MEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 290, 7 December 1943, Page 4

TRANSPORT MEN

PLACE IN INDUSTRY

UNION SECRETARY'S VIEWS

Objection to men in the transport industry being directed to work at Westfield was voiced by Mr. L. G. Matthews, secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union, at a sitting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee this morning. Mr. Matthews appeared on behalf of Thomas Arthur Edwards, a driver employed by the Passenger Transport Company, who appealed against being directed as a labourer to R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., Westfield, on the grounds that the wages would not be sufficient. The appellant, Mr. Matthews stated, had had 13 years' experience as a driver. He had worked on his own account, and, prior to volunteering for service with the forces, was employed by the Passenger Transport Company. When in the Army he volunteered for work at Westfield and returned to the company at the conclusion of the season. The Drivers' Union, said Mr. Matthews, was greatly concerned on account of the number of experienced drivers in the transport industry being taken out of the industry by the manpower officer. "We "have an army of workers in non-essential industries whose services could be utilised," he declared. "It is wrong in principle to rob the industry. The transport industry is the backbone of New Zealand, and we are reaching a stage when it will break down. 1 know it is necessary the work at Westfield should be done, but I don't consider a worker who is making a 100 per cent war effort should be taken from that work to do something which could be done by a youth." In replv to the chairman, who asked whether Edwards would be doing the same work as last season, Mr. Leggett said the appellant would be doing a general labourer's work, which would be along the lines of what he had done before. The chairman pointed out that if Edwards had not volunteered to come out of the Army and work at Westfield he might still be in the Army. Mr. Leggett said that while drivers had been directed to Westfield, every tvpe of occupation had been called upon, due largely to the fact that New Zealand was rather fortunate in not having a large unskilled class. War had brought an unprecedented demand for unskilled labour, which the country was not able to meet, and demands had to be made on skilled labour. The situation in regard to transport drivers was not as serious as it was in other industries. Many driving jobs could be filled by women. The committee reserved its decision.