RIGHT TO ENLIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24205, 25 January 1940, Page 10

RIGHT TO ENLIST

ABATTOIR WORKERS A FREE HAND GIVEN PREVIOUS DECISION REVERSED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 24. After nearly an hour's discussion, and before receiving a deputation from the men concerned, the Auckland City Council resolved at a special meeting to over-ride the decision made ,at an informal meeting on January 16, that exemption from military service be sought for the 34 slaughtermen and others employed at the Municipal Abattoir. , „ „ , The following motion by the Deputy Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, who presided, was adopted unanimously:— "That any member of the councils staff who desires to join the forces be granted the necessary leave of absence, and that it be left to the proper authority to decide whether his services shall be accepted." The council also approved of an amendment to add the words: "And that any application made be withdrawn.' Cr R. Armstrong, who objected to the reversal of the former decision until it had been formally rescinded, left the chamber as a protest before the vote was taken. "I desire to state emphatically that at no time has the council tried to prevent men from joining the forces, said the Deputy Mayor. In the existing conditions, the council has simply acted in good faith, and in what it believed to be the best interests of the community under the present system. It merely, in a formal way, referred the matter to the placement officer, and submitted a list of those who were considered essential, but. not before the town clerk had again spoken to the placement officer, who assured him that the men would be regarded as essential." " It appears to me," Mr Allum continued, "that the council must now consider the position of its staff as a whole, and without further delay decide whether or not it will intervene by making representations which may prevent the enlistment of any of -M staff. My own opinion _is that every member of the community should consider that, having offered his services, his duty lies in accepting the decision of the authorities, but as apparently there are many who insist that, notwithstanding the nature of their employment, they shall be permitted to join the armed forces, I am sure the council will not wish to place any obstacle in the way of such men. A deputation of three abattoir employees which the Deputy Mayor had declined to admit until the motion had been disposed of, then entered. The resolution was read to the deputation, and when asked if he had any representations to make, the spokesman said one difficulty remained. It was possible that the placement officer would decline to sanction a man's enlistment unless the abattoir manager gave him a definite release. Would the council instruct the manager to give it? , . A member: You mean that you want the manager actively to assist you in getting into the army? The spokesman: That is so. When the deputation had withdrawn the point raised was referred to the council's committee responsible for the abattoir.