NEED OF MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 4

NEED OF MEN

SEASONAL WOBK DRAWING ON INDUSTRIES "The transport industry is the backbone of New Zealand, and it will break down if manpower authorities continue to take away our skilled drivers, and if the only men we can Ret to replace them are not capable of doing the job," said Mr. L. G. Matthews, secretary of the Drivers' Union, before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. Mr. Matthews was appearing for T. A. Edwards, an employee of the Passenger Transport Company, who appealed against his direction to R. and W. Hellaby, Limited, Westfield, as a labourer, on the grounds of insufficient wages. "The union is most concerned about the number of experienced drivers who are being taken out of the industry ,by manpower authorities, when there are up to 350 drivers in non-essential industries whoso services could bo utilised," continued Mr. Matthews. "The union and the employers are having the greatest difficulty in obtaining efficient drivers. The first experience oi tin? appellant during his previous employment at Westfield was pushing cooked bones along a floor and down a shute, a job which a youth of 15 or 16 could do. Nearly 700 Men "Where are the youths of this age?" asked Mr. W. J. Truscott, a member of the committee. Evidence was brought that the appellant, who was grade 1 with four young children, had had 13 years' experience as a driver and had operated his own business, running three trucks, lie had volunteered for the Army and had been mobilised for ten months. He had been released to work in the freezing industry. The representative of the manpower officer, Mr. W. A. Lcggatt, said appellant's employers had been given a replacement, a man who was grade 2, and they had not opposed the release of the appellant for seasonal work, provided he returned to their employ afterward. "About 680 men are wanted urgently for seasonal work at Westfield," said Mr. Leggatt. "Last year we were fortunate in drawing on the Army, but this year they say they have been sucked dry. The next best thing to do is to draw on the men who were specially released from the Army for freezing works. All Types of Workers "The civilian population has to be mobilised for the requirements of war industry, and we realise this must*entail certain inconveniences. Carpenters, painters, students and all types are being drawn upon. New Zealand has no large unskilled labouring class and it is unable to meet the demand without drawing upon skilled men. If we heeded all the demands of union secretaries we would never get the men. The carpenters' union is also concerned about the drain on its members. Because we select a man from the driving industry it is an honest effort for the general good of the country. The 'situation in the transport industry is not nearly as bad as at Westfield." The appeal was dismissed. DIRECTION OF MANPOWER INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED Instructions from the National Service Department, Wellington, that all men who had worked in the freezing industry last season were to be directed there again this season, were quoted by Mr. R. Lydford, , the manpower officer's representative, at a sitting of the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. Exceptional circumstances would have to be proved to allow these men to remain where they were. Several of the appeals which came before the committee yesterday were against directions of the manpower authorities to the freezing industry. Many of the appellants had been released from the armed forces on their own application to w r ork in this industry last season. "These men who volunteered to come out of the Army to go to the freezing industry must realise that they are only on leave without pay," said the chairman of the committee, Mr. J. O. Liddell. "Strictly speaking, they are still members of the military forces. If Westfield was not a seasonal industry, they must realise that they would still be there. At least, they are still members of the industrial army." CHURCH EXTENSIONS PRESBYTERIAN PLANS Two suburban Presbyterian congregations sought permission from the Auckland Presbytery last evening to undertake extensions to their buildings. The Somervell Memorial Church, Remuera, applied for permission to enlarge the church so as to provide additional seating accommodation for 80 and to erect four Bible class rooms. The total estimated cost was £3500, and permission was asked to raise a sum not exceeding £ISOO of this on mortgage. Representatives of the congregation stated that a gift of £SOO had been received for the buildings, with the conditional gift of a further £SOO. The permission sought was given. Similar permission was .given to the Mount Albert Church to undertake structural alterations and extensions to the church, including a gallery, at an estimated cost of £I2OO. Three Presbyterian chaplains with the United States forces. Chaplain <J. C. Castle, Chaplain W. J. Hoy and Chaplain J. S. MacKorell, were welcomed to the presbytery by the moderator, the Rev. H. J. Lilburn. It was agreed to ask the maintenance of the ministry committee to continue the appointment of the Rev. F. J. j T.vlee to Howick for another year. Mr. W. K. Brabyn was appointed to the East Coast Bays home mission station. Mr. R. G. Smith, a son of the Rev. J. D. Smith, of Mount Eden, was accepted as a student for the ministry. It was agreed to grant Miss R. L. Mercer, of Mount Albert, a presbyterial certificate for admission to the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Training Institute in Dunedin. YOUTH TRAINING CAMPS ADVOCATED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday "Exactly what effect the report of the consultative committee on the school curriculum will have on the school we are not yet aware, but it seems that the rapid industrialisation of the town is likely to make more calls on our resources than was previously anticipated," snid Mr. W. Eraser, principal of the Hamilton Technical High School, at the end of the school year ceremony. "The raising of the school leaving age to 15 and the probability of continuation education for apprentices on a part-time basis in the daytime may have very far-reach-ing effects." Mr. Eraser said he had long considered such steps necessary, for he believed that if many young peoplo were longer subject to-ordinary school routine and supervision much less would be heard of youthful delinquency. "I should be inclined to go further and advocate a period of six months' camp life for youths about 18 years of age. when they could perform some useful public sendee for their country, have their physique built up, and be under salutary discipline," he added.