WATERSIDERS AND WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23727, 7 November 1940, Page 10

WATERSIDERS AND WAR

A GRADE MEN EXEMPT ESSENTIAL PART OF INDUSTRY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 7. The principle that grade A waterside workers are to be deemed an essentia] part of the Dominion’s war organisation was emphasised by the chairman of the Wellington Man Power Committee when appeals by the Waterfront Controller from the requirements ol Territorial training in respect of 12 members of the union came up to-day. The controller, Captain Yandenberg, said it was essential to keep the waterfront industry going. They had. lost 100 freezing men in the first three echelons. He would appeal, he said, for all waterside workers _to he exempted. It was a closed union, and the industry was a most essential one. The chairman of the committee, Mr Luckie, said au industry bad the right to appeal regardless of whether the men concerned wanted to go to camp or not. No technicalities should he allowed to stand in the way, and all grade A men, who were an essential part of industiy, should be given adjournments sine die. A college master who appealed on the ground that a serious position would arise if the education system was not fully maintained, was met hy the remark that the position would be much more serious if there was invasion without trained fighting men _ to_ meet it. His personal appeal was dismissed, but the appeal'of the employing authority was met to the extent that appellant will not he called up before December 7.