Breach of Manpower Regulations

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 210, 5 September 1944, Page 3

Breach of Manpower Regulations

In the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court yesterday H. E. Townsherid Ltd. were prosecuted for terminating the .services of two employees without the prior consent of tho manpower officer. The circumstances were that in August last the company was granted permission to put a number of men off, including the two in question, but a little later they decided to keep the two particular men on. They were timber stackers but were told that, should no work bo available for them, they would have to go. Then in -February last the authorities switched 90 per cent, of the timber supplies of the North Island to Wellington and Auckland. Practically no timber came to Palmerston North and the men were put off and the manpower officer notified. The latter granted permission on March 16 which thus became the official date on which the company could discharge them. Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., in entering a conviction without penalty, said the purpose of the regulations was to ensure that the manpower officer knew of the discharged men being available so that he could make use of their services in some other essential industry. There was no evidence in these cases of an industry being penalised because of the company’s action.