DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 5

DEFENCE OF N.Z.

UNFIT MEN

Transfer to Essential Industries

INTERVIEWS IN PROGRESS [Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, March 17.

Approximately twenty thousand men in New Zealand who have been called up for service with the Armr ed Forces and medically graded HI or IV are to be interviewed by the officers of the Employment Division of the National Service Department, who will determine whether they shall be transferred to essentail industries. The work of interviewing men has already begun. When this class of men has been dealt with, attention is being given to men aged between 46 and 50, and to women of 20 and 21. Men 'are not to be taken out of essential industries for direction into others, but those in non-essential occupations are to be placed in employment more useful to the country’s war work. Decisions of the Department’s officers are subject to review on, appeal by the new Industrial Manpower Committees throughthe Dominion. Absentee Miners STOCKTON MANAGER’S COMPLAINT P.A. WESTPORT. March 17 Mr T. McGhie, manager of the Westport-Stockton Coal Company’s mine, stated to-day at a sitting of the Manpower Committee that thirty of his underground workers had absented themselves at one stage. He stated that he had appealed to them but had received no satisfaction. with the result that the output of the mine was affected. He wanted to know if the Committee had any jurisdiction in this matter. The chairman pointed out that the Committee had no control over the state of affairs such as this. However, if any of the defaulters had appeals lodged on their behalf, the committee would take into account the fact of their non-attend-ance.

Evacuation Trial HELD IN WELLINGTON WELLINGTON. March 17. It took fifteen minutes to evacuate fifteen thousand people from an area in a trial dispersal held in Wellington ta-dav. From preliminary reports it would appear that the officials are not altogether satisfied with the try-o.ut.