MANPOWER APPEALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 4 February 1944, Page 2

MANPOWER APPEALS

MENTAL HOSPITAL WORK STAFF POSITION NOT IMPROVED COMMITTEE SITTING IN NELSON Most of the cases which came before the Christchurch Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee at its sitting in Nelson last evening and to-day were by women who appealed against direction by the District Manpower Officer (Mr W. F. M. Ott) to work at the Mental Hospital. The committee comprised Messrs K. G. Archer (chairman), P. J. Kelly and H. Lee.

Mr Ott said that since the last visit of the committee to Nelson the staffing position at the Mental Hospital Uad not improved. Of the seven latest directions six had appealed. There were no more women in the registered age group up to 31 years who could now be called on in the district.

Dr. J. U. Williams, Medical Superintendent at the hospital said that the position had become worse. On an establishment of 103 on the nursing side the hospital was 12 short with an additional 18 absent for illness and other reasons, making a total shortage of 30. On the domestic staff there were only three instead of 8 and the already overworked nursing staff had to relieve on the domestic side.

Dr. Williams said it was an interesting and useful occupation. All the girls who had been directed to the work had settled down and were quite happy. The chairman: “Out of those who have gone to the hospital under compulsion have there been any failures ?” Dr. Williams: “No.” They had all been most satisfactory, liked the work and did not want to leave, he added. “The need is great and the conditions are not as bad as they think before having experience of it.” The Medical Superintendent, m reply to the chairman, said the male staff was now more satisfactory.

When the point was raised by counsel that the Nelson district was expected to find the staff for the hospital, whereas it was contended lhat women should be manpowered from other parts of New Zealand also, the Medical Superintendent replied that even with those directed to the staff not more than 25 per cent, of the total came from Nelson;

The first case heard was that of Miss N. B. Hammond who appealed against direction to the Mental Hospital. Messrs Wilkins and Field Ltd., the applicant’s employers, also appealed against the direction. Mr E. B. Moore appeared for appellant and Mr C R Fell for the firm.

Miss Hammond staled that she had been in the firm’s office for nine years and was now the senior accountant. In addition she kept her father’s books, her father being a carpenter and builder working on his own account.

Mr L. W Field managing director of the firm gave evidence of the present staff. Miss Hammond was the senior girl on the office staff, and the others could not take over her work. The decision was reserved. Miss Rona H Oughton (Mr C R. Fell) appealed against direction to employment at the Nelson Mental Hospital. and her employers. B Trathen Ltd. similarly appealed. The evidence showed that appellant was senior assistant in the firm’s showroom. She lived with her mother who suffered from ill health She did not want to leave her mother on that account and appellant considered <=he was temperamentally iftisuited for the work at the hospital Medical certificates on the health of the appellant and hef mother were produced. Mr G. M. Trathen gave evidence for the fiiTn. Previously there were three senior assistants and one junior in the showroom and that staff was now reduced to the buyer, appellant and one junior. The decision was reserved. J. R Dodson and Son Ltd. appealed against the refusal of permission to engage Miss A. M. Ching. a book-keep-ing machine operator at Buxtons Ltd. Mr C R Fell appeared for Buxtons Ltd Mr George R Hunter secretary of J. R. Dodson and Sons, stated that the firm had no office staff at present except himself. Appellant said she wished to accept the new employment which would give her a change from the monotonous machine work which she had been doing continuously for seven years. The Manpower Officer said he discouraged the transfer as he considered that Miss Ching’s services were of more value to the public at Buxtons Ltd. Mr Fell said he felt that the need of Buxtons was greater than that of Dodson and Sons, who were brewers The appeal was dismissed. David Lloyd Harrison appealed against direction to employment in the Department of Agriculture. Appellant stated that he had gained his B.Sc. degree at Canterbury University College and had hoped to return there this year to gain his M.Sc. deThe Manpower Officer submitted a recommendation from the Students Advisoi*y Committee which supported the direction. Harrison, he understood would no to the Department’s chemical staff Facilities would be available for appellant to complete his degree at Victoria University College. Asked by the chairman how that would affect him Harrison said it would necessarily take a longer period than if he was able to return to Canterbury. The chairman said he wished to know the Advisory Committee’s reasons for the recommendation in Harrison’s case. Apparently there would be other students who would be allowed to return to their studies. The chairman added thdt the committee was not satisfied about the position and adjourned the hearing in order to gain further information. appeals heard to-day The appeal committee continued its session this morning when the following cases were heard:— F B. Kroupa t.ppealed against direction to employment with H. Baigent and Sons Ltd Appellant who had been a member of the N.Z. Forestry Unit and had volunteered for the transport section of that unit stated that he had gained little experience in forestry work.

F V. Kroupa, father of the previous appellant, appealed against his son’s direction to H. Baigent and Sons, stating that he required his services to assist in farming his property of over 200 acres, carrying 32 cows. F. V. Kroupa said he was unable to drive the tractor now and depended on his son to do this work. The committee reserved decision. Karsten and Hay, Ltd. (Mr J. H. Ralfe) appealed against the direction of Miss E. M. Canning to employment at the Nelson Mental Hospital. Evidence was given that Miss Canning was an employee in appellants’ furnishing business and was in charge of the clerical work and the sales department. Mr E. Karsten gave evidence of the staff position in the shop and stated that there was no one to take Miss Canning’s place. He had been unable to secure any suitable replacement. She had held her present position for two months. Miss Canning gave evidence concerning her objections to working *in the hospital.

The decision was reserved. S. M. C. Thomas appealed against refusal of permission to terminate employment with H. Baigent and Sons Ltd. who advised that the company was prepared to release appellant, but requested that he remain for a further three weeks. Appellant, a married man with five children, stated that he wished to accept employment with the Lime and Marble Co. at Mapua where he could get full-time work and would not have to travel to his work. His services there were urgently required.

The committee granted permission for the release of appellant from his employment with H. Baigent and Sons, Ltd. subject to seven days’ notice. The committee heard an appeal by Miss K. A. Harling (Mr W. V. Rout) against her direction to employment at r 1 Nelson Mental Hospital. An appeal by the British Book Club, where Miss Harling was employed in full charge of the Nelson branch, was heard in conjunction with Miss Harling’s appeal. Appellant produced medical evidence and submitted that she was unsuited for work at the hospital. Dr. J. U. Williams stated that a medical test had been arranged for appellant, who had declined to have the examination made. Appellant stated that she had been advised by her medical practitioner not to have the test. The proprietress of the British Book Club (Mrs McDougall) gave evidence concerning Miss Harling’s health and her own domestic position, which precluded her taking a more active position in the business.

The case was adjourned pending the production of further medical evidence. An appeal by Miss D. H. West against direction to employment at the Nelson Mental Hospital was heard in conjunction with an appeal by her employer, G. Samuel. Evidence was given by appellant concerning the health of her mother and sister with whom she lived and of her domestic responsibilities. G. Samuel gave evidence concerning Miss West’s position on his staff, where she was employed fully as the sole book-keeper and had complete charge of keeping the accounts, including trust accounts. Prior to the v/ar two male clerks and two females > had been employed. The staff now comprised five female clerks, one of whom worked only in the mornings as her health permitted. Enquiries for a replacement had been without result and he had been unable to obtain the services of a public accountant. Decision was reserved G. B Fleming (Mr G. Samuel) appealed against refusal of permission to terminate employment with the Benara Timber Company. Appellant was a farm worker who had been employed at the mill. 20 miles from his home for two years. He now requested permission to leave this employment and take up farm work, including scrub and gorse cutting on a property only five minutes’ walk from his home. D. Davies, father of the farmer who wished to employ Fleming gave evidence concerning the farm which carried 51 milking cows and last year produced 12,4281b5. of butterfat. The farmer also sold about 60 to 70 weaner pigs to neighbouring farmers and put 30 to 40 through the factory. No other labour was available in the district and Davis had no other help on the farrh. On behalf of the Benara Timber Company evidence was given by C. B. Hodgson, concerning the need for labour at the present mill and a new mill which was now being erected Decision was reserved. Miss S A. Inw appealed against direction to employment at the Mental Hospital and this appeal was supported by an appeal by her employer, Mr S. A. Wearing, who stated that he owned a combined store and restaurant employing two girls of whom Miss Inwood was the senior assistant. She had been there for two years. Evidence was given of the number of customers dealt with and the supply of meals to college and school children, which entailed a great deal of work during the rush periods.

The committee reserved its decision. H. K. Pain (Mr G. Samuel) appealed against refusal of permission to terminate his employment with W. S. Howson, butcher, at Nelson, in order to accept employment with a butcher, an ex-serviceman from the present war, who was commencing a butchery business in Granity. In evidence appellant stated that there was no butcher in Granity at present and the business would supply the mining communities and country customers in the district Evidence of appellant's domestic responsibilities and his reasons for preferring employment in Westport were given. Appellant stated that his prospective employer had been unable to secure any staff at all. W. S. Howson (Mr C. R. Fell) gave evidence concerning the staff position at his Nelson shops. Decision was reserved.