OIL CO. WORKERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 21 November 1941, Page 2

OIL CO. WORKERS

TWO MEN RESERVED EMPLOYED IN DRILLING Four employees of the New Zealand Petroleum Company were appealed for by the company at yesterday’s sitting of the No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board in Gisborne. In two instances out of the four the company (Mr. F. W. Nolan) asked for exemption from service, and in the other cases a postponement only was asked for. The first case was that of Douglas Smythe Clarke, a cathead man at the Midhirst drilling site. On behalf of the company, Mr. Allan F. Weymouth, senior geologist,' stated that it would be virtually impossible to replace Clarke, whose departure would mean a serious loss of efficiency. It was not possible to say how long drilling would continue.

To the Crown representative. Mr. J. S. Wauchop, the witness said he was not aware that Clarke had been provisionally accepted for the air force. Mr. Wauchop stated that the Director of National Service desired that special consideration be given to drilling-crew members. The appeal was adjourned sine die. The position with regard to Stanley Thomas McEwen, rotary helper, was almost identical with that of Clarke, said the company’s representative. The work could be done by the average man, but those as well trained ns McEwen were difficult to replace. The work required certain physical powers above the average. In reply to the chairman of the board, Mr. IT. B. Lusk, the witness said that several employees had left the company to go into the services. The appeal was adjourned sine die,

The company was able now to replace Henry Edward Richmond, a surveyor, the company’s representative said in respect of the next case. The board wa? asked to fix n date at which Richmond must be relieved.

The board dismissed the appeal, and directed that Richmond should not be called up before December 31. A fourth employee, John Francis Hills, a Diesel mechanic, for whom an appeal had been lodged, was stated to have entered camp, and the company withdrew the appeal by permission of the board.