TRAINED STAFF SHORTAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 2

TRAINED STAFF SHORTAGE

(Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. The staffing position in regard to the trained personnel in the Railway Department has never been worse, stated Mr AV. AV. Chitty, chief clerk at the Auckland railway station, before the Industrial Alnnpower Committee. Air Chittv opposed an appeal by a guard, Charles Gordon Jones-Prieh-ard (Mr Haigh) against not being allowed to leave the department in order to become a full-time poultrykeeper. “There are men in the department whom I would help to get out if 1 could, but l cannot afford to lose even that type,” Mr Chitty continued. At the present time there were vacancies for guards everywhere in the district. In all 145 men of the Second Division were expected to return from the Armed Forces, but it was not known when they would he available. 'I he taking of reservists for the last AfuTdlo East replacement draft had been the heaviest blow the department had suffered during the whole period of the war.

Air Haigh submitted that it was in the economic interests of the country that appellant should be allowed to leave the department in order to give full-time supervision to his fixe acre poultry farm at Henderson. He had been with the department for 16 years before lie was appointed a guard. There wore a large number of shunters available with 20 or more years’ experience who eouhl be promoted to fill his position.