SAWMILLERS AND HOME GUARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1942, Page 3

SAWMILLERS AND HOME GUARD

[to the editor.] Sir, —In reply to “Not Another Tobruk” letter, I must say your correspondent is not apparently conversant with the milling industry. As one who holds quite a responsible position in that industry and who has worked in it for a long number of years, I wish to state that if production is as essential as we are told, and the 48 hour week is necessary, which I believe is so, then, those men who wish to avoid Sunday Home Guard parades etc. are certainly justified in doing so while the 48 hour week lasts. If your correspondent worked 48 hours at sawmill work, then I must say that if he does not have a spell at the week-end he must slip. Of course, if we had the same hours at the National Reserve which are approximately 9 to 4 o’clock, on 5 days a week, and 9 to 12 o’clock, on Saturdays, with a sports meeting of some kind on Saturday afternoon, and half an hour’s church parade on Sundays, it would be different, and a man would not need the spell on Sundays. “Not Another Tobruk” need have no fear of the sawmill and bush workers not doing their part in the real stuff, if the occasion arises “as they are doing it to-day” and the little yellow chap would find it a hard job handling this class of man. Further, there are very few men in the sawmills who would not voluntarily do Home Guard duties under the 5 day week, and quite a number will still do it, even on the 48 hour week, where conditions are suitable, but again, there are quite a number who believe, and rightly so, that by having a spell on the Sunday they are in a better position to give of their best as requested by the authorities, in an all out effort to provide'absolutely necessary and urgent war requirements.Your etc., ANOTHER SEBASTOPOL.