MAN-POWER COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1940, Page 3

MAN-POWER COMMITTEE

RAILWAYMEN’S APPEALS. [per press association.] AUCKLAND, December 6. “The Railways Department is very concerned about the maintenance of its staff, particularly over the production season,” said the secretary (Mr. L. N. Harris), in referring to appeals for the postponement of service affecting 68 employees, at . a sitting of the Auckland Area Manpower Committee, to-night. The appeals, he said, were instituted by the Director of National Service, Mr. J. S. Hunter, emphasising the effect of the war on the department’s staff.

Mr. Harris said that 2361 employees had enlisted for overseas service and had either departed or were'now in training; an additional I 638 had been called up in the first ballot, and the department . had lodged only 139 appeals; another 1354 had been drawn in the second ballot and appeals had been, or would be lodged, for less than onethird of the total. The staff was now at the minimum. The position regarding those for whom appeals had been lodged would be reviewed’ from time to time by the department and the Director of National Service. Mr. Harris said that many of the appeals in the' group then before the committee concerned men who were directly or indirectly engaged in the manufacture of plant, and munitions, either at Otahuhu workshops or at private factories, to whom they had been loaned. The appeals were adjourned sine die.