ASSIGNED TO LABOURING JOBS

Evening Star, Issue 25171, 10 May 1944, Page 3

ASSIGNED TO LABOURING JOBS

BANK CLERKS RELEASED FROM ARMY APPEALS SUSTAINED BY MAN-POWER TRIBUNAL (P.A.) AUCKLAND. May 9. Appeals by two bank cierks, both grade I. medically, and married with three chii- : dren, against tbeir direction as labourers to the Colonial Sugar Kenning Company Ltd., were heard by the Auckland Industrial Man-power Committee to-day. The Bank of New Zealand also appealed in caca case. , The man-power officer's representative, Mr R tydford, said that the men weia released from the Army for direction lo essential work of high priority. Men in this category were given three options— to volunteer for overseas service, to remain ia the Army and serve anywhere in the country, or to accept release for essential work. The two appellants had signed forms to tha effect that they would accept essential work.

" I considered that it was the usual Army notion of no option at all," said one of the appellants. N. H. Hume, who added that he had not understood the condition* when he signed the form, but thought ha would return to his former employment; with the bank. He had thought that tha men concerned were to be released hi anv case. He had been a bank clerk for 20

years The other appellant, M. H. Churton, denied that any explanation that they weva to "be directed to essential work of high priority was made to the men when tha forms were signed. He had been; with tha Bank of New Zealand since 1927. Evidence of staffing difficulties was given by the managers of the two branch banka concerned. At the outbreak of war tha Queen street branch had 166 male members on its staff and 10 women. In May of last year the staff was 79 men and 78 women. The number of men had been si ill further reduced by retirements and resigna. tions due to ill-health. There was extra work involved at present in dealing with American currency, while meat rationing accounted for the full-time employment of one girl and the employment of a man for half his time. In the Newmarket branch, it was stated, there was a staff of eight men in 1939, and there was now a staff of five men and fiva girls, but the amount of business had increased by three times the 1939 figure. The appeals lodged by the bank wen allowed in each case.