STAFFS DISORGANISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 6

STAFFS DISORGANISED

PARNELL WOOL STORES MEN LEAVE THEIR JOBS By casually leaving their positions without giving notice, a number of workers at the Parnell wool stores are seriously retarding the preparation of the wool clip for the next Auckland appraisal, which will commence on December 9. "The whole thing is shocking, and brokers are exasperated," said Mr. F. G. Birmey, chairman of the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association, last night. "It is common to arrive in the morning and find that six or eight men have not turned up. They draw their weekly wages on Thursday afternoon and are just not there on Friday, while Saturday mornings are the worst of all. "This is completely disorganising our staffs and is causing delay in preparing catalogues for the next appraisal. The position is the same in all the stores, where half a dozen men are leaving from day to day, without giving any notice. It is time the growers were told the difficulties under which brokers are working. We endeavour to do our best for clients, but we do not know which way to turn." The present season has been very backward, but with better weather more shearing is being done and there has been a consequent rush of wool into store. Brokers are doing their best with the short staffs available, but they cannot hope to deal with all the wool in time. Work in the wool stores is seasonal, and brokers do not employ permanent staffs, except for certain technical men, such as classers. For the remainder they are dependent on outside labour. Many of their trained men are serving overseas. In stacking and baling the men work in teams, and the absence of one or two men disorganises the entire store.