ABSENCE FROM WORK

Grey River Argus, 12 January 1944, Page 3

ABSENCE FROM WORK

CHRISTCHURCH CASES CHRISTCHURCH, Jan,, 11. To date, only 12 notifications of absenteeism have been received by the District Manpower Office. After full inquiries have been made, action will be taken against the workers where it is proved that thy have been absent _ without leave. The oifice has been notified by telephone that 40 per cent., of the staff of an engineering factory was absent and as soon as the official notification comes in appropiate action will be taken. A Christchurch manufacturing firm which reopened last Wednesday, had' about two-thirds of its staff awav. More women than men were absent, and in some departments none returned. On Monday the number of workers was nearly back to normal. A footwear factory which reopened last Thursday had 19 girls out of 72 away op that day. The number absent without leave increased to 25 on Friday. The secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr. R. T. Alston) said absenteeism was just as rife this year as it was last year, in spite of the five-day rest period. Tlie worst offenders appeared to be in the engineering trade. In one i foundry on Mondav 30 per cent., of the skilled workers were still away, and 5 per cent. ,of the unskilled workers. As a result, production in the foundry section had dropped 50 per cent. Absenteeism in the clothing industry was not so serious, one factory reporting that 121 per cent., of the employees were absent, 10 per cent., without leave.