RAILWAYS STAFF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 7 December 1940, Page 2

RAILWAYS STAFF

APPEALS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF j MILITARY SERVICE DEPARTMENT’S VIEWS [United Press Association] AUCKLAND. 6th December. “The Railways Department is very concerned about the maintenance of its stall, particularly over the production season,” said the secretary, Mr L. N. Harris, referring to appeals for postponement of service affecting 68 employees at a sitting of the Auckland Area Manpower Committee to-night. The appeals, he said, were instituted by the Director of National Service, Mr J. S. Hunter. Stressing the effect of the war on the department’s staff. Mr Harris said 2361 employees had enlisted for overseas service and had either departed or were now in training. A further 638 had been called up in the first ballot, and the department had lodged only 139 appeals. Another 1354 had been drawn in the second ballot and appeals had or would be lodged for less than one third of the total. The staff was now' at a minimum. The position regarding those for whom appeals had been lodged W’ould be reviewed from time to time by the department, and the Director of National Service. Mr Harris added. He said that many of the appeals in the group then before the committee concerned men who directly or indirectly engaged in the manufacture of plant and munitions. either at Otahuhu workshops or at private factories to whom they had been loaned. The appeals were adjourned sine die.