MANPOWER APPEALS

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1945, Page 7

MANPOWER APPEALS

COMMITTEE SITS AT GREVMOUTH directions to grey hospital , dealt with The Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee sat at Greymouth yesterday. Mr. J- E. Jones presided and ■with him were Messrs P. J. Kelly and R. H. Webb. The District Manpower Officer (Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell) was also present. Several appeals against direction to work at the Grey River Hospital were quickly disposed of. Appeals against direction to work, on the domestic staff of the Nurses’ Home were lodged by,Wicks Drapery Stores Ltd., for Nancy Iris Ledsham, Herb Moore (Mr. C. R. McGinley) for May Dunn, and Jean Milligan Bell, Mrs. A. K. Bell, and Woolworths (N.Z.) Ltd. (Mr. W. D. Taylor) for Miss Bell. Sam McAra (Mr. A. M. Jamieson) appealed against the direction of S'ara J'oan Hopkins to work as a wardsmaid at the hospital. After evidence had been given by Mr. Moore in support of his appeal, Mr. Mitchell said that the Hospital Board was not represented. The hospital was pressing for staff but as there was disagreement on the board regarding the question of whether or not girls should be directed he asked that the appeals against direction to the hospital be adjourned till the board had defined its attitude. The secretary of the board was ill and the assistant secretary absent from Greymouth, he added. Mr. Jamieson said that as the board, which was vitally interested, had not thought lit to be represented he asked that the appeal in which he was acting be allowed. Similar applications were made by Mr. McGinley and Mr. Taylor. After a short adjournment the chairman said that as the board was not represented the appeals would be allowed. . The appeal for Miss Ledsham, which was not prosecuted, was struck out, Mr. Mitchell intimating that he would withdraw the direction. Angus E. Hay (Mr. McGinley) appealed against the refusal of permission for him to terminate his employment with the Railways Department. Dr. V/'. A. Bird gave evidence that as a result of an accident in 1937 Hay suffered pain in the back which was madd worse by the work he was doing. More important than that, rheumatic fever from which he had suffered in childhood had left him with a heart condition, just discovered, which precluded his doing heavy work. In his opinion thp work Hay was doing for the Railways Department was too strenuous. Hay told the board that he could get work as a painter, Mr W. T. Langbein, Resident Railways Engineer, commenting that the department could not employ him in that capacity as h e was not an indentured tradesman. In answer to Mr. Langbein, Dr. Bird said that he was the railway medical officer and he would not pass Hay fit for railway duties. Hay, in evidence, described unsuccessful attempts to secure transfer to lighter work and to leave the employ of the department. The department’s appeal for him against military service had recently been dismissed but he was now grade two.

Mr. Langbein said that on Dr. Bird’s evidence he could not now put Hay on. The appeal was allowed. George Ronald Biddington appealed against the refusal of permission for him to terminate his services with United Sawmills, Camerons. Mr. Biddington in evidence said he wished to join the Railways Department as a surfaceman! The management had told him they would not stop him going if a replacement could be provided. United Sawmills were not represented.

Mr. Langbein,"for the Railways Department, said that there was a shortage of staff and 'work could be found for Biddington. The appeal was allowed. An appeal bv John C. Wells against permission being granted Jack Bros., Kotuku, to terminate his employment was struck out, Mr. Mitchell saying that Mr. Wells had accepted another position.