UNION COMPANY APPEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16498, 26 March 1917, Page 4

UNION COMPANY APPEAL

SECRETARY HELD ESSENTIAL.

MEMBER OF BOARD DISAGREES. [bt TBLEGIUrir.OWN correspondent.] —' \ . ' ;.; DTJNEDIN. ■'Saturday. Conshdehabm interest was taken in the hearing of the appeal by the Union Steam Ship Company for the exemption of Albert William Wheeler, the ;'.company's secretary, which came before the First Otago Military Service Board to-day. The case had twice previously been adjourned. Mr. 0. G. White appeared for the company. Captain Post, a member of the Transport Board, slated that the organisation of the Union Steam Ship Company was essential for the efficient carrying on of the transport service. . The control of that organisation was centred in. Wheeler. In the circumstances; witness believed that. Wheeler's services were necessary. '■ "'" The Chairman, Mr. H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. : Is it not ; possible that without .Wheeler, the. marine superintendent and other officers could carry out the work? ■' ; Witness replied •. that ,he ■ could ; not ; say. It was maintained, however, -that they had enough to do.''; : '..'//' ~if <* The Chairman : Are you satisfied that & man is necessary for this position? ;' : v -. Witness : Some man is necessary for the position. \. A , ;;.-; Major-General Sir '■■ Alfred - Robin, Commandant of the Forces, wrote that; ho felt Wheeler should not be. taken away at thin time, as the military relations with 'tho company were of -a very extensive and continuous nature. Captain Free, tie' military representative, said Wheeler's presence for transport work •;., was considered essential,' but how long it would remain essential he could not say. , At present he was ; satisfied that it would be to the detriment of the transport servico if Wheeler were to ; go. ; V : \ j; c; ■■.; •:,-: Officer ;or Position. ''■'-;. ;,Pp.

K. The chairman said the "board had given ! this case very patient and careful consid- / eration. /It appeared /. that/ the ..transport i work and the hospital ship work were in j'tha .hands',of the Union Steam Ship Company ; and - the only question / was /.whether Wheeler;.was. essential 1 to-that/ work;/ for the'- board did > not : propose to consider ; the company's position, except in regard; to transport work. ft They ; had the evidence of the general ; manager," Mr. Aiken, who said he had no man to take Wheeler's place. '/, It was apparent that the office was essential' and ; the / question was whether i Wheeler was essential to that office. With regard to ■ that, Mr.; Aiken i said that ,he had. only one-third his * original staff, that this position was" one that would have to be filled,by' a man from a higher position, and .that he had no one to put in his place.'. The board had had evidence that Wheeler was not essential; but; there was plenty of- evidence that he, was essential 1 at tho present time. ;/ Whatever private opinion he might have, he felt that the board could only come -■ to I one conclusion arid adjourn -.the;. case sine ' die. The board knew that many people in the streets would know better than the board. : Possibly.' the contrary opinion would be expressed, but he'himself, agreed with another member j of' the : board -, that this was one of the strongest cases that had come before the board for conditional exemption, and in the face of the evidence before them, board could come /to any other conclusion. It was .understood; of course," thatv this... conditional upon Wheeler remaining in his present position and that position remaining essential. - u; Reservists Should be Released. > {'\ There was. also this point: Wheeler,; was a' man in the first division and it was encumbent upon /company'to do everything to make such arrangements as would release employees.;; It seemed curious that something had not been/done in. regard to Wheeler'before''this.; The board ' adjourned. tho case ;with'; the proviso that it ! could Be brought on again at any time. If Wheeler could be relieved, ho* should bo relieved from the office as soon "as pos- | sible. ;; ■;': '•.://-'vft ; \ ; \ \ s./->.':-;r :; '-,-'-,-' -,

lf : Mr. Edward . Kel'ett disagreed with the decision. "I regret that ■-. in this instance •;•'. I ; feel : compelled ito givo a minority*' report," ho said. " "I Jam not at all satisfied'; by the evidonco laid before the board that Wheeler is essential to the proper carrying on of the transport service. • As , our chairman has said, .we have had-evidence, from one side only. At the same time, I cannot allow the occasion to pass without saying .that I am riot, satisfied. Wo had the evidence of . Captain Post. ; He states that the office is essential, but ho does not. say that Wheeler is essential to fill that office. v With a company of the magnitude [of ;tho ■'Union • Steam' Ship Company, with hundreds of trained men, it seems to me absurd to say that they cannot spare ono man .when he is called up in the ballot." '- "/.