STATE DEPARTMENTS CRITICIZED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 47, 19 November 1941, Page 10

STATE DEPARTMENTS CRITICIZED

Over-Ruling Of Appeal

Authorities

REPORTED REFUSAL OF LEAVE FOR SERVICE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, November 18.

The action of State departments in over-ruling appeal authorities and refusing leave to employees to undertake territorial service, was strongly criticized by the area officer of the Army Department in Invercargill, Major H. C. MacKenzie, at a sitting of the Manpower Committee today. Three appeals by the Director of National Service for State employees were heard by the committee, and in two cases it "as stated that departments had refused to allow reservists to go -to camp when notified to do so.

“It is a question whether we require a military force in New Zealand or not,” Major Mackenzie said, in emphasizing that the men were required for military service and that the action of the. departments created serious inconvenience to the Army. Two of the appeals were dismissed and the third was allowed.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. E. H. Murney, said the eases appeared to be similar to one which received a good deal of publicity) in the North Island. On that occasion it was specifically stated—as every employer should know—that the only authorities authorized to deal with postponements were armed forces appeal boards and manpower committees. “No employer, whether he is in the Public Service or a private citizen, has a right to act as these peoine have,’’ said Mr. Murney. “They have brought a good deal of comment and odium on the Public Service which is not justified because the service is as loyal as any other class, but they should hot have acted as they did.”