FREEZING WORKS EMPLOYEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1945, Page 2

FREEZING WORKS EMPLOYEES

DIRECTED MEN” APATHETIC

AUCKLAND, April 26.

That men recently directed to the freezing industry were not taking an interest in the work was mentioned by the employment officer for the Westfield Freezing Company, Mr E K. Baxter, who appeared before the No. 1A Armed Forces Appeal Board to seek exemption from military service for 113 employees. Of the reservists 35 had served in the Pacific with the 3rd Division. for the Crown, Mr G .E. Mortimer pointed out that appeals concerning t>B of the company’s unskilled men had been determined by the board on. April 14, when the Manpower Utilisation Council recommended that they should be made available for camp. On this occasion the recommendation was that the cases be adjourned sine die, as the reservists were either skilled workers or married men with family obligations. About 80 men were required throughout the whole works at the present time, said Mr Baxter. Since lie was before the board on April 1A a number of workers had been cu-; reeled to the company, and this has assisted the position as far as labourers were concerned. He said directed men were not interested at all in the work. As they were only there for a short time it was most difficult to make anything of them, and they were not suitable for replacing experienced men, such as those whose cases were before the board. In the rJd (lavs men who came to the works were interested, and keen to get on to the chain. . , This appeals concerning reservists who produced evidence that they hac already served overseas, or who hac. three children, were adjourned sine die In the remaining cases the boaid reserved its decision.