STAFFS IN STATE DEPARTMENTS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24568, 17 May 1945, Page 6

STAFFS IN STATE DEPARTMENTS

* COMB-OUT -SUGGESTED BY MANUFACTURERS

LABOUR IN NON-ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES

A challenge to the National Service Department to prove that it had combed out non-essential industries in Wellington for manpower was issued to the director (Mr H. L. Bockett) by Mr D. V. Wilson, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, when the association’s council last evening met Mr Bockett. Mr Wilson said members would go so far as to say non-essential industries in Wellington had increased their staffs during the war. The director was also invited to make a survey of staffs in Government offices both in Wellington and Christchurch, complaints being made that girls were not fully employed. “We cannot expect to see no labour employed in non-essential industry unless we close dov.n every industry unless it is in the national interest,” replied Mr Bockett. “We have a complete register of all labour and the purge is going on all the time. We have got to the stage where we are taking labour out of essential industries for more essential industries. I would like to know of the non-essen-tial industries, because we have done our utmost to comb out the labour. Of course, if we’dosed half the shops in Wellington, we could get the labour.”

Asked a question by Mr Wilson, Mr Beckett said he would not say,that non-essential industries in Wellington begun since the war had been unable to get staffs. The workers were beyond the regulations. Mr Wilson said manufacturers felt that a straight-out privilege was being given to State employees which industry and other sections of the community did not enjoy. Were Government departments put “on the spot” to justify their staffs” Mr Bockett: Definitely so. Mr Wilson: Well, someone must go round v ith his eyes shut. Both Mr Wilson and Mr A. M. Hollander spoke of girls in Government departments in Wellington and Christchurch not paying attention to their work. Replying to questions. Mr Bockett said the Public Service Commissioner was responsible to the National Service Department when engaging staff. All Government departments had been declared essential.