DRAIN ON STAFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20340, 31 August 1940, Page 5

DRAIN ON STAFF

MILITARY SERVICE WAR-DURATIQN POSTS SUPPLIES OF APPLIANCES Most, of the correspondence placed before the Poverty Bay Electric-Power Board at its monthly meeting yesterday had been dealt with by a finance committee meeting previously, and board members were only called upon to deal with committee recommendations. Several policy matters were raised in departmental reports, however, and these furnished the meeting with its main topics. Those present were Messrs. F. R. Ball, chairman, H. H. De Costa, Chas. Matthews, A. A. Fraser, C. W. Izod, J. E. Benson, G. D. Muirhead, J. H. Hall, W. G. Sherratt, M, T. Trafford, B. J. Holdsworth, and C. E. Mills. The managing secretary, Mr. R. P. Baigent, and the engineer, Mr. F. Matthewson, were also in attendance.

The finance committee approved the managing-secretary’s action in notifying a firm of importers that the board would take its full quota of a special importation of ranges from Canada.

The committee also recommended the board to accept a proposal from the New Zealand Lighting Service Bureau in regard to the return of used lamp caps. It was explained that the board would receive credit for the quantity supplied, and that the lamp caps would be used in the manufacture of new lamps. N.Z.E.F. and Territorials

The board discussed at length the problem of staffing in view of the number of single and young married men on the staff who either had volunteered for service or were liable to be called up in the ballot. It was reported that a good proportion of the present clerical, engineering ar.d field staff's were first division men, and that the board already had two former employees abroard with the N.Z.E.F., and others in camp either as N.Z.E.F. or territorial trainees. The office staff alone had lost three male employees, and others were likely to be called upon.

The board authorised the executive officers 'to take the necessary steps to train juniors to fill the anticipated vacancies where possible, and to engage adult workers where necessary. All appointments, Mr. Baigent stated, would be for the duration of the war, in view of the board's obligation to employees who undertook military service.

The action of the engineer in engaging labour to dismantle D-C. meters held in store was approved, the managing-secretary reporting that arrangements had been made to sell the mercury in these meters, while there was also a market for other parts.