Manpower System Criticised

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 125, 30 May 1944, Page 4

Manpower System Criticised

Protests at departmental delays under the Employment Restriction Order No. 4, which prohibits the engagement of a worker without the prior consent in writing of a manpower officer, were voiced by Magistrate and counsel during the hearing of a prosecution In Palmerston North yesterday. Mr. A. M. Ongley commented that while the Manpower Department had such wide scope, there should be a certain amount of latitude. He instanced the case of an employer who had engaged an urgently-needed worker and at the same time written to the Department explaining the position. Two days later a letter came back. Mr. H. P. La wry, S.M.: Which means the Department, had the employer followed the required course of writing for consent first, would have kept the worker unemployed for two days. Mr. Ongley: The Manpower Office works one-sided. Employees walk out when they want to and the manpower officer can’t keep them in their jobs. The Department can’t assist the employers when workers walk out, but immediately the employers attempt to fill a vacancy they are prosecuted. There should be some leniency displayed in order to assist employers and not prohibit them from employing people. Mr Lawry commented that employers were allowed to retain workers for a week when levies had not been paid, but No. 4 Order was more stringent. The way the Department was administering the order seemed to be keeping people out of employment instead of working. It would be doing no harm to the manpower position to get unemployed people into temporary work.