N.Z. DEFENCE MEASURES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1942, Page 4

N.Z. DEFENCE MEASURES

INDUSTRIAL REGULATIONS DRASTIC POWERS CONFERRED WELLINGTON, May 21. Far-reaching amendments to the National Emergency Regulations, and new Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, were announced by Mr. Semple, to-day. He said the amendments were to that part of the regulations dealing with national service outside the armed forces and particularly with the direction of persons to work of national importance.

A new amendment aimed at ensuring that the man and woman power concerned would be fully utilised through the provision of a guaranteed weekly remuneration, as fixed by the Minister of Labour for workers. Another amendment placed an obligation on the employer to make work available as required by the Minister of Labour or the Controller. Mr. Semple said there might be delay in fixing the minimum guarantee for every essential industry, but the Minister of Labour could make the guarantee retrospective to May 18. Mr. Semple reiterated no employer, without proper consent, could engage any worker who left an essential undertaking without proper authority. If an employer failed in this obligation, he committed an offence. Where a worker was reinstated after dismissal, or lost time attending an employer’s appeal which was dismissed, the employer could be required to pay the worker for all or any part of the time lost. Provision was now made for the District Manpower Officer to consent to the termination of employment at. less than seven days’ notice, so that if a worker’s normal work were abolished, he could be transferred to another position without the termination oi his engagement. . . The power of the Minister of National Service to direct any person to perform any service outside the arm - ed forces, had now been extended to apply to companies, corporations, and associations. Individuals transferred from one employment to another in this way are to be given the same rights of occupational re-establish-ment as if they had been called up for military service. Another amendment places an obligation on employers to see that all persons employed have enrolled ?n the Emergency Reserve Corps. Power has been taken to require an employer to give training or em - ployment to persons directed to work of national importance performed by his factory or business. Other amendments include the deduction of union fees from wages. The Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, said the Minister, placed # an obligation on employers to make work available during ordinary working hours, and on employees to be available for work during those hours. In addition, an employer in an essential industrty or undertaking may be required to keep his concern working during specified additional hours, and to require workers to work during those hours. There were penalties for both employers and workers who, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with such requirements. A worker must not absent himself without leave or reasonable excuse, but it was not intended to penalise a loyal and willing worker for isolated absence. The penal clauses were designed to deal with deliberate defaulters and persons who were habitually or persistently late for work. The District Manpower Officer was given power to require an employer to deduct from wages up to two days’ pay in cases of persistent or habitual lateness, or of continued absence of four hours or

more. Right of appeal to the Manpower Committee was provided. The amount deducted would go into the War Expenses Account.

MR. FRASER’S TOUR

NEV/ PLYMOUTH, May 20

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) to-day began a three-day tour of inspection of the vital defence points of Taranaki. The object of the visit is to bring those in charge of war work in Taranaki into touch with those responsible for the direction of the defence of New Zealand.

Among those accompanying Mr. Fraser are Lieutenant-General Puttick, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, Major-General N. W. McD. Weir, Officer Commanding the Central Division, Colonel C. V. Ciochetto, Regional Commissioner in charge of Emergency Precautions Services in the Central Region, and Mr. E. A. Flynn, a member of the Defence - Engineers’ Service Corps. The party to-day visited Patea, Hawera, and Opunake. Tomorrow’s programme will include visits to Eltham and Stratford, and the tour will conclude at New Plymouth on Friday. The party will return to Wellington early on Saturday.

E.P.S. FINE?

CHRISTCHURCH, May 20

A recommendation that a member of an E.P.S. unit be fined under powers recently given controllers by Ministerial order, was made by the Central Committee of the Christchurch E.P.S. to-day. The question was referred to the committee because the powers in the Order have not been previously invoked. The maximum penalty is £2. After discussion in committee, the chairman (Mr. E. H. Andrews) issued a statement. He said that several instances of breach of discipline had been brought before the committee. One was a bad case, and the committee considered that the oenalty provided by the condition of service order shoulu be imposed. Mr. Andrews said "that the committee viewed seriously any offence which interfered with the proper functioning of the E.P.S. or of any dereliction of duty by E.P.S. workers. Some E.P.S. workers were inclined not to take their duties seriously, but it was a serious job.