SERIOUS POSITION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 285, 1 December 1944, Page 6

SERIOUS POSITION

LABOUR SHORTAGE

FREEZING WORKS" NEED

"The position at the moment can be described as very serious," said Mr. F. A. Hassall, officer in charge of the freezing workers' section of the National Service Department, when furnishing a report on the supply of labour available for the Westfield Freezing Works at a sitting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee this morning.

A requisition had been lodged for 415 men to work at Westfield, said Mr. Hassall. The services of 100 soldiers and 50 university students had been procured, leaving a deficiency of 265, which had to be made up by combing out other industries. The chairman, Mr. H. Campbell, asked whether any of the 4000 men returned from the Pacific would be available for the freezing works. Mr. Hassall said that a maximum of 330 men had been allocated to the Auckland district, but the freezing works would be lucky if they got 200.

In reply to Mr. K. Simpson, a. member of the committee, Mr. Hassall said the season was just starting and would continue until mid-March. There was ample opportunity to work overtime, and a freezing chamber hand could earn an average of £8 to £10 clear each week.

The assertion that a young man had reported at the freezing works yesterday, and had been told that there was nothing to do, was made by Mr. Lovegrove on behalf of J. W. Andrew and Sons, Ltd., who appealed against the direction of an employee to Westfield.

Mr. Hassall said that he was surprised to hear this statement, as he had been informed by union officials and representatives of the firm that yesterday the works were desperate for men.

Subsequently Mr. Baxter, employment officer at Westfield, appeared before the committee, and said that the foreman had informed him that no man had been given permission to leave. A certain amount of labour had to be held in readiness, but sometimes stock did not arrive according to bookings. Yesterday the killing finished at noon, but the men who knocked off work could have been found work elsewhere.

The committee reserved its decision in connection with this appeal, and also in two other appeals against direction to work at Westfieid.