State Overrules Appeal Authorities

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 9

State Overrules Appeal Authorities

[Per Press Association—Copyright.] INVERCARGILL, This Day. The action of State departments in overruling appeal authorities and refusing leave to employees to undertake territorial service was strongly criticised by the area officer for the Army Department at Invercargill (Major H. C. McKenzie) at a sitting of the Manpower Committee yesterday. Three appeals by the Director for National Service for State employees were heard by the committee, and in two cases it was stated that the departments had refused to allow the reservists to go to camp when notified to do so. “It is a question whether we require a military force in New Zealand or not,” Major McKenzie said, in emphasising that the men were required for military service and that the actions of the departments created serious inconvenience to the army. Two of the appeals wei’e dismissed and the third was allowed.

Unwarranted Odium The chairman of the committee (Mr. E. H. Murney) said the cases appeared to be similar to one which received a good deal of publicity in the North Island. On that occasion it was specifically stated and the employers should know that the only authorities authorsed to deal with postponements were the Armed Forces Appeal Boards and the Manpower Committees. “No employer, whether he is in the public service or a private citizen, has the right to act as these people have/’ said Mr. Murney. “They have brought a good deal of comment and odium on the public service which is not justified because the service is as loyal as any other class, but they should not have acted as they did."