DISMISSED MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 8

DISMISSED MEN

STATE GARDEN WOBK VICTIMISATION ALLEGED (0 C ) ' TAURANGA, Friday Allegations that they had been dismissed from their employment on the State vegetable-growing project at Oturnoetai as a result of the interest | displayed by them in their union were made by three men who appealed to the Industrial Manpower Committee in Tauranga to-day against tne decision | of the district manpower officei m "■ranting the Department of Agriculture permission to dispense with then services. The grofinds for tne .appeal were wrongful dismissal and victual., ation for union activities. Ihe hearing lasted all day, and the committee reserved its decision. , The anpellants were Harold _branfc Julian, Charlie Pihema and Dennis Sharnian Turner. Mi'- L. D. Lees appeared for the department, Mr. r>. i • Uradlev, secretary of the Auckland General Labourers' Onion, for J«han and Turner, and Mr. T, 1. Potter, organiser of the General Labourers Union in the northern industrial area, for Pihema. Staff Reductions Julian's appeal was heard first. Mr. Lees stated that the project was started in 1942. Julian was among the first batch of men taken on and no doubt looked upon himself as a permanent employee. The work was of a seasonal nature, and the department claimed that Julian's dismissal was due to stair reductions and that there were no other or ulterior considerations, except that Julian was not a good worker. . . Arthur Ernest. Mercer, supervising officer of the project, said some members of the staff were better than others and he had begun to realise that Julian was not as satisfactory as some of the others. When the workers on th'e project joined up with the union it was suggested that Julian should be one of the job delegates. Witness objected to this, its he knew that Julian was not satisfactory and that his influence on the others would be undesirable. Witness said he had not given anyone an assurance as to the duration of the work. It was an emergency undertaking and it was impossible to say how long it would last. Mercer added that he "had since learned that he had no, nuthoritv to object to Julian's appointment. Julian was a very unsatisfactory worker and was inciting the men to go slow. Case for the Appellant Giving evidence in support of the appellant, Trevor Patrick Potter, organiser of the General Labourers' Union for the northern industrial area, stated that because of information received. by his union that Mercer had refused to recognise Julian as a job delegate, he visited the project on | March- 22. On his arrival he had a discussion with Mercer, who stated that Julian had been illegally elected as job delegate. Witness said he .would not like to say Mercer was hostile, but he took an undue interest in union affairs and was misleading. He definitely did not give the impression that he was going to be helpful. Witness held a meeting of workers on the project and as a result four delegates were elected, one of whom was Julian. He told Mercer of Julian's appointment, and Mercer said he refused to recognise him, whereupon Mercer was told it was no concern of his. Duration o! Employment Julian, in evidence, said he was informed when he started on the job that it would be for the duration of the war and six months after. He had told Mercer that he ! had taken steps to have a union formed, and was informed by Mercer that he was not interested in unions or union secretaries. Witness added that on March 23, the day after the meeting at which he was appointed a job delegate, he received notice of termination of employment, and four or five others, all of whom had supported his candidature, also received notice. Mr. Bradley stated that his union considered this one of the most important cases it had had to handle, and it was most concerned about the way employment had been terminated. Victimisation Denied Mr. Lees submitted that there was not one tittle of evidence to suggest that Julian was dismissed because he had been appointed a job delegate. It was very easy for a man to come along and say he was unmercifully and dictatorially relieved of his job because he was appointed a job delegate. He could not believe that the officers of the department would hinder a man from joining a union. There could be no possible motive for such victimisation. The committee reserved its decision. The appeals of Pihema and Turner were then heard, and both said they considered that they had lost their jobs because of their support of Julian. The committee also reserved decision in these cases. NEW COALFIELD DISCOVERY NEAR K.AKAHI (0.C.) TAUMARUNUI, Friday An expert coal prospector is reported to have discovered a valuable coalfield about six miles from Ivakahi. Samples of coal being shown in Taumarunui are even better in appearance than Huntlv coal. The field is so situated thai the coal | could be worked as an open seam by I bulldozers and scoops as is being tried | in the Obura district and elsewhere. | Kakahi is on the. main line 10 miles below Taumarunui. ADULT EDUCATION The Workers' Educational Association classes opened this week in the Auckland University.district. The director, Mr. P. Martin Smith, reports that- ail classes show greatly increased attendances. This has made the problem of accommodation an acute one. In addition to the overcrowding of the city classes, there is a greatly increased interest, in the suburban classes. Newclasses will shortly be formed at Bayswater, Takapuna, Avondale, Titirangi, Otahuhu, and a number of other suburbs. The increased interest in the city and suburban classes is also reflected in the country and requests for lectures and discussion courses and adult educational facilities are coming into the office at an unprecedented rate. ■ PRICE FOR PIG~MEAT (0.C.1 _ HAMILTON, Friday A seasonal increase of Ad per lb. in the price for pig meat would take effect as from June 1, 1944, not from May 1, as he had stated at a recent meeting of the South Auckland Dairv Association, said Mr. W. A. Marshall, chairman of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, to-day. He pointed out that the new Government increase would, as he had stated, operate from May 1, the seasonal increase occurring a month later.