DIRECTED TO “SEAVIEW”

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1945, Page 8

DIRECTED TO “SEAVIEW”

GREYMOUTH WOMEN APPEAL ' Four out of nine women employed lin Greymouth business firms and j banking institutions for whom appeals were lodged when they received directions to report at the Hokitika Mental Hospital for work as probationer nurses, have been ordered by the Christchurch Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee to immediately carry out the direction order, their appeals having been dismissed. Only three appeals were allowed. The sitting of the Committee comimenced at Greymouth this morning, [Mr. K. G. Archer presiding with i Messrs P. J. Kelly and R. H. Webb, ' while the Manpower Officer, Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell opposed appeals. Twentyi one appeals have been set down for 'hearing and most were disposed of this I morning, those remaining to be heard when the Court resumed this after- ■ noon being in connection with directions to the Grey Hospital as domestics. Prior to the hearing of the appeals in respect to Mental Hospital work, Mr. C. R. McGinley, counsel for a number of appellants, said that on their behalf he had some general observations to make. He pointed out that the Minister had recently announced that directions to mental and - other hospitals were to be withdrawn , at the end of next February. His clients had suggested—and quite reasonably—that the whole purpose of the announcement was to warn the institutions concerned that at the end of the period they would have to fend i for themselves as far as staff was concerned. He thought it reasonable to I'contend that new directions should I not be made to hospitals in the case of unwilling directees who at the end of February, when the restrictions were to be removed, would immediately leave and put the hospitals in a worse position. Christmas was approaching and stock-taking and staff holidays would be due afterwards, and the various appealing firms particularly required their full staff over this period. Invited by the Chairman to comment, Mr. Mitchell said the position at the Hokitika Mental Hospital was more acute than ever, there being 24 nurses short and this was the bare minimum. Originally the staff had been 62 and it was now 19 and the POSITION WAS DEPLORABLE from the viewpoint of the nurses and the Medical Superintejndent. _ The Manpower Office was endeavouring to build up the staff in the hope that those who complied with the Committee’s decisions would, by the end of February, have become acclimatised and satisfied with the work, finally becoming content to remain at their work. The Director of National Service had yesterday stated that he was anxious to continue with the issuing of directions in order to build up the hospital’s staff to a maximum point between the present and February 28. Mr. Fraser, chief clerk at the Hokitika Mental Hospital, said the institution was 27 nurses short, 2 being absent without leave and two cooks having to be replaced by nurses. The hospital was also short of a tutor sister. He added that four married women from Hokitika were working parttime and had been most helpful. The Chairman said that the Committee appreciated the points mentioned, but he was afraid that he could not go so far as to say that directions should not be macle. The policy of the Crown was to lift the regulations at the end of February, but if the Committee allowed all the appeals at the present sitting it would be over-rid-ing the State and would mean that the regulations had already ended. COMMITTEE’S DECISION Giving the Committee’s decision on the cases concerning the Mental Hospital, the Chairman said that the view . the Committee had taken was that of the Department, that, notwithstanding the early lifting of the regulations, at "the present time they must be treated as if they were in force. It was desirable that girls should be directed to Mental Hospitals in order to give them assistance, though it might be of short duration. It was, of course, to bo hoped that some young women would take up the work at the end of > February. However, the appeals were ' to be dealt with as if the regulations were still in force and that was what had been done. At the same time, the women directed to hospitals are entitled to get their jobs back when released, and he was sure they would soon re-adjust themselves. The following appeals for women are all in connection with the Mental Hospital:— The Grey Electric Power Board and Mrs. E. Malpass (Mr. A. M. Jamieson.) lodged appeals against the direction of Iris Malpass. W. S. McClymont, Secretary of the Power Board, said that the Board ranked with the Hospital in essentiality and the staff was at a minimum. Directee was the only employee to use shorthand. There was a staff of 10, compared with the prewar staff of 12. Directee had 10 years’ clerical experience. Mrs. E. Malpass, mother of directee, said she was a widow of 61 years and her only single child was directee. Witness was nervous and needed someone to stay with her.— Allowed.

Millers (Hokitika) Ltd. (Mr. C. R. McGinley) appealed against the direction of Melva Hope Robertson, a personal appeal being withdrawn. J. McDougall, manager, said the firm was short handed and with the increase in work at and after Christmas it would be a hardship for him io release directee. There were a number of junior girls and directee was a senior hand. To Mr. Mitchell: The union had not expressed antagonism to the employment of more juniors than seniors. Directee was definitely not agreeable to going to the hospital.— Dismissed.

Harley and Co. appealed for Agnes Julia Blackadder. —Direction withdrawn on medical grounds. Gold Mines of New Zealand, Ltd. (Mr. McGinley) appealed against the direction of Madge J. Bellamy. Mr. McGinley said four girls were now doing the work previously done by four girls and two men, with a possibility of further work with the early construction of the Taramakau gold dredge. J. K. Watson, New Zealand manager of the firm, said there had been an extreme difficulty in getting suitable staff and work was increasing. The staff was required for the compilation of returns which were most necessary. Witness had only recently taken up the position of manager on the departure of Mr. W. F. Ellis, and would be severely handicapped by the reduction of his staff. To Mr. Mitchell: The cessation of work at the Barrytown dredge did littlQ to ease office duties, and he would not agree that the Taramakau dredge construction was a mythical project at the moment. There was likely to be more office work shortly

in connection with the Barry town H dredge.—Dismissed. - 1 Bank of New South Wales and Henry George appealed on behalf of Mary Isabella George. R. E. Taylor, bank manager, said the business of the bank could not be carried on with less staff than at •present and directee could not be replaced. She had five years’ experience and was the firm’s sole ledger keeper. H. George said he was incapacitated and his wife was not in the best of health. He was certain that his daughter would not suit hospital work. —Allowed. Preston Smith (Mr. T. E. Coates) appealed against the direction of Sylvia Smith. | Mr. Coates asked that directee be allowed to stay on her father’s farm until February 1, when she would be willing to go.—Direction was postponed until February 1. APPEAL FOR ORGANIST. The Session of St. John’s Presbyterian Church and Kit McLean Learmont (Mr. Jamieson) appealed, against the direction as a probationer nurse of K. M. Learmont. ' The Bank of New Zealand advised that it would grant appellant leave of absence. Rev. T. G. Campbell said directee was organist at the church and could not be replaced. Even if a replacement was available several months’ training would be necessary. Mr. Webb: Could you not carry on a service without music—some do. Mr. Campbell: Some do, but not the Presbyterian Church now. He added that the organ—a two manual type—was difficult to play and an unskilled organist could ruin the instrument. Mr. Webb: From the Christian point of view, is playing the organ more important than administering to the sick? Witness: Services in the church are as important as administering to the sick. Mr. Webb: There is no need for the services to be perfect is there? —If there is no music at all it will ruin my services. Mr. Archer: Have you investigated the possibility of leave on Sundays?—l know from my own knowledge that this would be impracticable. At any rate practice is needed during the week. Mr. Webb: The church must be run on high standards.—lt is, sir. K. Learmont said she was employed with the Bank of New Zealand and had been a member of the Red Cross, having served at the Grey Hospital. She had been organist for a year. All members of the family had been war-workers. She preferred clerical work to nursing. a To the chairman: She was a tern-; porary member of the bank staff but: did not think her services would be dispensed with. Though she hadi tried out nursing she did not like it. She now considered it was time for| someone else to do something. She did not believe in directions, though | she admitted that nurses were need- | ed at the Mental. She had done her ' patriotic work while during the war S others who had not done “a jolly thing” were still sitting in their jobs. —Dismissed. | Westland Transport Ltd. (Mr Me- | Ginley) opposed the direction of I Margaret Moore, accountant. I 1 J. M. Eadie, managing director, said directee carried out complicated work, managing the | inside part of the business, i and he could not do without her. There was a staff of twenty men and • four girls. All of the women were | back a few years in their holidays, i 'and he did not know when they;! could take them. ) Eric Souter, accountant, agreed | that directee had a natural bent as ; far as her work was concerned. He ? did not think everyone could acquire [[ it. She was necessary to the finan- •; cial side of the business. —Allowed. Betty Douglas (Mr Jamieson) ap- j pealed against her direction to the !> Mental Hospital. , Appellant, an employee of the I National Bank, said she had no train- , ing in any work other than clerical, and nursing had no appeal to her.— J Dismissed.

RAILWAY APPEALS An appeal by R. J. G. Burns against refusal to terminate his employment with the Railways Department was withdrawn. Vernon Eric Martin appealed against refusal to terminate his employment with the Railways Department, which was represented by Mr Darroch. Appellant said he was a member of a wiring gang in the Signals Branch, and was employed at Inangahua Landing. He lived at Ahaura, where his mother lived alone, and [wished to be able to return each night. Mr Darroch said the Department was still short of staff and 10 men were still in the Armed Forces. Appellant had been promising and had recieved special training.—Dismissed. New Zealand Railways appealed against permission being granted William James Lennane to terminate his employment, this having been granted on medical grounds. F. G. Anderson, clerk, Railways Department, said Lennane was employed in a plate-laying gang, and all three gangs were under-staffed. Lennane’s release would not assist the Department in keeping the track in good order. The work was exceptionally heavy. The appeal was dismissed. Norman Frank Adams (Mr McGinley) appealed against refusal to terminate his employment with the New Zealand Railways. Appellant said he had been manpowered to the Railways on his return from service in the Pacific, but, as a result of financial difficulties, resigned and commenced work at the mines. His application for permission to terminate had been declined by the Manpower Officer. F. G. Anderson said the Department wished to retain appellant owing to the shortage of staff. The Chairman said the man had served overseas and was now entitled to bo released from the work to which he had been directed, unless there was some important reason against that, and there did not appear to be one. The appeal was allowed. New Zealand Railways appealed against permission being granted John Gordon Inglis to terminate his employment. F. G. Anderson said that Inglis was a carpenter labourer, in a work gang, and many of these were short staffed. The Department was behind with its work. J. G. Inglis, opposing the appeal, said he had worked in sawmills prior to joining the railway. He had about 22 years’ milling experience. He had resumed work at the South Beach mill as a yardman. The appeal was dismissed. Claud Victor Thurston (Mr. Jamieson) appealed against refusal of permission to leave the Public Works

Department. Appellant said he was a Diesei

operator at Dobson, but had received an offer of a more lucrative job at Tokomaru Bay, which offered better opportunities. He considered that the plant could operate with the present staff after his departure. Most of his time was spent in electrical repairs. By next Winter a man could easily be trained to do his job. The Department had not advertised for a replacement for him. E. James, Public Works Department Electrical Engineer, said the Department could not tell when a breakdown was likely to occur and the Dobson station compelled to run for weeks. The station must be kept fully manned, according to instructions from head office. The appeal was allowed.