APPEAL ALLOWED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 262, 4 November 1944, Page 6

APPEAL ALLOWED

MANPOWER OFFICER RELEASE TO PRACTISE LAW (0.C.) NELSON, Friday. The unusual position of a manpower officer appealing for his own release arose before a sitting of the ; Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee. ' Mr. W. F. M. Ott, district manpower officer at Nelson, sought release from his duties to allow him to take up a partnership in an established legal practice in Nelson. He had been actively associated with the practice of law ever since his admission as a solicitor in 1924 except during the past two years and a half, when he acted as manpower officer. Before that he was district solicitor in the Public Trust Office, Nelson. No use was being made of his legal qualifications and he felt that the position should now be filled by a demobilised or returned serviceman. Opposing the appeal on behalf of the National Service Department, Mr. E. A. Selman, inspector for the Department, said that the work was increasing and the Department could ill-afford to lose the services of even one trained officer, particularly when he was in a controlling position. The chairman announced that the appeal would be allowed.