MANPOWER APPEALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1945, Page 2

MANPOWER APPEALS

Further greymouth cases. What was probably the last sitting which will be conducted by the Christchurch Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee at Grey mouth in view of the Government’s announced intention to lift the manpower regulations as from February next, concluded yesterday afternoon, when further appeals, mainly by women against direction to Hokitika Menta. Hospital as probationer nurses and the * Grey Hospital as wardsmaids, were considered. Mr. K. G. Archei presided and associated with him were Messrs. P. J. Kelly' and R. H. Webb. . , , John Patrick Pickering appealed against the direction of his daughter, Doreen Pickering, to work as a cook at Hotel Westland,- Hokitika. . . ; In a letter, appellant forwarded a medical certificate concerning the health of his wife. Mrs. L. M. Taylor, Manpower Office, said that the hotel was four short in staff and heavily booked. Appellant had previously worked at the hotel, and her present employer had indicated that her services were not essential. The appeal was dismissed. Ella C. Cawley (Mr. A. M. Jamieson) was unsuccessful in her appeal against direction to the Grey Hospital as a domestic. Sister of directee, Mrs. Mary Buchanan, testified that directee assisted her with housework and was also employed by Beath and Co. She had had no experience as a domestic. Beath and Co., represented by Mr. C. R. McGinley, were refused a hearing, the chairman stating that the appeal was a personal one, the firm s appeal previously having been. dismissed. The firm could if it wished give evidence. ’ The appeal was dismissed. Maude Coombs, a qualified nurse, appealed, against direction to Ihe Mental Hospital. Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell, Manpower Officer, said that appellant had previously been employed at the Hokitika Mental Hospital and had been granted three years’ leave of absence. Tn that time she had passed her exams and though qualified would not accept a position as tutor sister at the hospital. . Appellant stated that she wished to do maternity training next year and did not desire to return to Hokitika. , „ „ Miss N. Moffat, Matron at the Grej Hospital, said that if appellant could remain at the Grey Hospital until the end of the year she would benefit greatly. The appeal was dismissed, subject to appellant being permitted to attend the maternity course scheduled to begin in July, 1946. Margaret Gallon and Harker s Tea Rooms appealed against the direction of the former to the Grey Hospital. Reginald Olsen, proprietor, said appellant had been trained for the position of head waitress, a position she would be taking early next year. He had appealed unsuccessfully for staff, and it would take nine months to train a replacement. Appellant said she assisted at home where there was a family of five. The appeal was allowed. Robert Tyson Walker appealed against the Railway Department being permitted to deduct £2/16/from his wages for unauthorised absences from work.

J. W. Young, Locomotive Foreman, said that several times trains' had been delayed by appellant’s offences. He had been unsuccessful in attemnts to leave the Department. On the grounds that appellant was a returned serviceman, the committee decided to reduce the fines to £l/10/-.