WOMEN DIRECTED TO JOBS

Evening Star, Issue 24297, 11 September 1942, Page 6

WOMEN DIRECTED TO JOBS

THEIR APPEAL RIGHTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON;, Sept. 10. The rights of appeal which are available when women are directed into work of national importance or enlist for the armed forces were explained in a joint statement issued to-day by the Alinistor of National Service, Mr Broadfoot, and the Minister of Industrial Man Power, Air McLagan. In respect to industrial mobilisation, the statement says, the regulations provide a very broad and comprehensive right of appeal. Control is always exercised by a decision or direction given either by the Alinister or the district man power officer, and appeals may be lodged within seven days with the appropriate district man power officer. The appellants may ask for deferment of the direction pending the hearing of appeals by a man power committee. Arrangements have been made for a woman officer of the department to investigate and report on an appeal if the circumstances make such a course desirable. In connection with appeals against service in the armed forces, the statement points out that all applications for enlistment are first referred to the district man power officers, who will indicate whether or not the applicants can bo released fo'r service in the forces. As a general rule, women employed in essential or important industries are not readily made available unless they can bo adequately replaced. It is realised that, although women may not bo employed on essential production, it may take some time to train replacements, and the man power officers will to a large extent meet the convenience of employers by deferring an applicant’s release for a reasonable time when this course is warranted. Usually there is an appreciable amount of time between the date of enlistment and the actual date of posting to a service unit. There is actually no statutory provision to enable employers or other interested parties to seek a postponement of service by way of appeal. Opportunity is given, however, for appeals to be lodged and heard by the armed forces appeal boards in the same way as in the case of men. The right of appeal is available immediately after recruits receive notices to report for duty.