Council Objects To Rebuke From Manpower Officer

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1945, Page 2

Council Objects To Rebuke From Manpower Officer

A motion expressing resentment at certain remarks said to have been made by the district manpower officer (Mr. A. J. Peterson) to a member of the city council following a meeting of the council, at which the Question of the direction of girls to Seacliff was discussed, was carried at a meeting of the council last night, and it was also decided to communicate with the Public Service Commissioner on the subject.

Mr. G. R. W. Barnes said that at a previous meeting of the council he had expressed opposition to the direction of girls "to Seacliff now that the war was over.

The council meeting was on Tuesday, and on Friday he received a telephone message from the district manpower officer, who said that he (Mr. Barnes), as chairman of the Invercargill Rehabilitation Committee, should not make such statements. “HIT BACK” THREAT | Mr. Barnes said he informed the I manpower officer that he had made the statements as a member of the city council and not as chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee, and that as a member of the council he was entitled to make such statements.

(Special) INVERCARGILL, This Day

The manpower officer said he would hit beck, and hit hard*T am entitled to speak freely at council meetings.” said Mr. Barnes. “In my opinion, now that the war is over, there should be no direction of men and women to employment. If wages and conditions are made attractive enough, the labour will be forthcoming. “I very much resent the remarks of the district manpower officer, whicn were made to me because I am chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee.

“I resent being asked to make an explanation of views that I expressed at a meeting of the council.” FAIR COMMENT

“Contrary to what appears to be the opinion of many people, we are quite at liberty in council to comment on the law and administration of the country, provided we do it fairly,” said Mr. E. J. McLauchlan.

• “That is a British right that cannot be taken away by any regulation. We are entitled to comment on this sort of thing and no Government official has the right to say what we should discuss at the council table. “A large number of people have spoken to me about this, and the great majority regard the manpower regulations as basically unsound. “Since my return from overseas I have been distressed to find that people accept regulations of this sort as a matter of course and seem to be frightened to criticise Government departments.

“This is quite contrary to British tradition. It is the thin end of the wedge. If we do not make a stand the day will come when our children, when they leave school, will have to go along to some Government department and ask what they are to do for a living.”