RELEASE OF FIT MEN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 213, 4 June 1943, Page 4

RELEASE OF FIT MEN

Hospital Board Criticized Dominion Special Service.

AUCKLAND. June. 2. Criticism was levelled at the Waikato Hospital Board by the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, Hamilton, yesterday, for not making an effort to replace grade 1 men in its employment by less fit men. The board appealed for members of its medical, clerical and orderly staffs. In answer to a question the secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board, Mr. A. C. Burgess, said the board had not yet tried to replace some grade 1 men, though 11 orderlies had joined the armed forces out of a staff of 39. The chairman of the Appeal Board, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M.. said the board had been told to replace the fit men. Mr. Burgess said that if the accountant was taken he would have to do the accountant’s work. . , In giving the board’s decisions, Air. Paterson said the appeals on behalf of the doctors would be adjourned sine die. The board considered that the Hospital Board should make a survey of its staff with a view to seeing what members could be released. The board also thought the Hospital Board should have made an endeavour to replace grade 1 men among the orderlies with grade 2 men or other men not eligible for military service. The attempt should be made immediately, said Mr. Paterson, and to enable this to be done, an adjournment of one mouth would be granted with respect to tile orderlies. As far as the accountant was concerned, it appeared' that the next man below him could do the work and other juniors could be promoted. The appeal for the accountant would be adjourned for one month to see what could be done.