COUNCIL RAISES BAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20487, 22 February 1941, Page 8

COUNCIL RAISES BAR

OBJECTIONS TO SERVICE EMPLOYMENT REFUSED WAITEMATA DECISION (t'er Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The Wgitemata County Council's decision not. to employ conscientious objectors received support from a deputation which waited on the council to discuss the case of a member of the outside stall who had been dismissed, but was still working for the council* without pay. The chairman, Mr. S. Phillips, said that two legal opinions which had been obtained supported the council in its action. It was staled by Mr. W. A. Bishop that after dismissal the man had been allowed to continue with his work as a result of the intervention of the member for that particular riding, Mr. H. Day, but he had been told he would receive no pay. Mr. Day said that the re-employment of the man was allowed pending a review of the position at the council’s meeting. ; Control of Staff Mr. Bishop said it was necessary for the council, to decide who was in charge of the outside start', the overseer or individual riding members. The council affirmed the procedure that the overseer was in charge. The leader of a deputation, Mr. E. Small, the secretary of, the Albany Returned Soldiers' Club, said that correspondence between his club and the riding member had been most unsatisfactory. Captain T. Connolly, M.C., D.C.M.. said that as vice-president of the Albany Returned Soldiers’ Club and commander of the Home Guard in the district and as a ratepayer he objected very strongly to the employment by any public body of a conscientious objector. Ten Votes to One Speaking to the deputation, Mr. Day said it was not for the council to take (he place pf the courts and committees who had been set up to deal with such matters. Other members of the council said the decision not to employ conscientious objectors had been made by 10 votes to one. They expressed themselves as being entirely in sympathy with the deputation’s views, and explained that the man was not being paid. After the withdrawal of the deputation the council passed on to other business, the chairman stating that the decision not to employ any conscientious objectors stood.