INDUSTRIAL MAN-POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25134, 27 January 1943, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL MAN-POWER

APPEALS AGAINST DIRECTIONS Appeals against directions of the district man-power officer, Mr E. A. Selman, were heard yesterday before the Industrial Man-power Committee —Messrs M. W. Grantham (chairman), S. D. Macphcrson, and H. 11. Gillard. Allegations Denied George David Jury, ship yard worker, appealed against the decision to grant the Stevenson and Cook Engineering Company, Ltd., permission to dispense witli his services.—Mr Selman said that fairly serious allegations had been made in a letter from the firm, but no previous reports had been received by his office.— Evidence was given by Mr T. McFadzean, manager of tbs yard, that appellant had repeatedly absented himself from work and had frequently caused inconvenience to the office staff because of his failure to put in proper lime cards. “Heis a good worker,” witness added, ” but lie has a habit of knocking off work and arguing the point.”—Mr W. C. McDonnell, labour union secretary, said that the appellant should have'been informed of the reasons for the termination of his employment at the time. He had known nothing of the allegations until the hearing of the appeal.—The appel'ant said that as the result of his service in the Last war he suffered from malarial fever, and also from the effects of a broken ankle. He denied the allegations that he had absented himself through any fault on his part. He had no intention of returning to Stevenson and Cook’s.—Andrew Jacob Haub, investigation officer for the National Service Department, said that he had informed the appellant of the reason for his suspension.—Mr McDonnell said that the allegations had not been backed up by evidence. If the appellant had constantly absented > himself or had not exercised due diligence then Stevenson and Cook should have complained before—Decision was reserved. Appeals Allowed The appeal of the Westport Coal Company, Ltd., against the direction of J. If. Hall, carter, to Downer and Co., Ltd., Wellington, was allowed. “ I am quite prepared to do any essential work,” stated Clarence Chambers, in support of his appeal against the refusal of permission to terminate his employment with the Irvine and Stevenson St. George Company, Ltd. He added that he had been taken on as a machinist, but he had been doing labouring work during the past five months. He had never been told that he was unsatisfactory on the machines.—The appeal was allowed, the appellant being granted permission to leave his employment on February 5. A condition was made that he is to report to the man-power officer. Decisions' Reserved Robert Cochrane, a married man, with eight children, appealed against his direction to the employ of Bayley, Tomkins, Hedges, Ltd., tanners, Burnside.—The appellant said he received £4 18s net for a 44-hour'week, and he was also in receipt of the Family Allowance. He was anxious to receive sufficient remuneration so that he would not “ have to bother about the family allowance ” Evidence was given by a member of the firm, Mr C. R. Hedges, who stated that there was a serious shortage of labour in the tanning industry. If the appellant, however, could obtain employment at a higher rate of wages he would be pleased to release him.—Decision was reserved. “Do you realise that if you are successful in your appeal the man concerned will go into the army? ” asked the chairman, when David N. Esplin, manager for J. R. Brown, Ltd., asked for the retention of J. N. Oliver, baker’s delivery van man, who had been directed to the Mosgiel Woollen Mills.—Mr Esplin said that his firm did not appeal for grade I men, and when Oliver was called up they waited to find his grading.—“ You would have been saved a lot of trouble if you had lodged the appeal earlier,” the chairman added. —Decision was reserved.

The Dunedin City Abattoirs appealed against the direction of George Burgess to the employ of the Ocean Beach Freezing Company, Ocean Beach, Southland, Burgess, who is at present employed by the Dunedin City Abattoirs, appealed separately.—Burgess said that if he removed to Ocean Beach he would have to keep two homes going, and even with the 30s separation allowance he would be out of pocket.—Evidence was given by Mr James Poland, contractor to the Dunedin City Abattoirs, that it would be difficult to carry on satisfactorily without Burgess.—Decision was reserved in both appeals.

“ This man is engaged in the proauction of agricultural lime, the whole output of which is booked up till June of this year,” said Mr M. G. Black, assistant manager of the Milburn Lime and Cement Company, in the appeal made by his company against the decision to grant Sinclair Alexander George Korner permission t,o terminate his employment. Two shifts of 10 hours each were being worked at Dunback, and another shift would be worked if the men could be obtained.—Korner stated that he was required to manage a poultry farm at Wingatui which was owned by the family, including a brother who was overseas.—Decision was reserved.

The position is really serious so far as the shortage of hosiery machinists is concerned,” stated the manager of the Roslyn Woollen Mills, Mr F. L. Taylor, in the case in which Reckitt and Colman (N.Z.). Ltd., appealed against the direction of Miss Jean Young Wilson to take up employment at the mills.—Decision was reserved. Appeal Withdrawn

The appeal of the Bell Tea Company, Ltd., in, respect to a packer. Miss L. C. Smith, was withdrawn on the application of the appellant firm. Hearing Adjourned

The appeal of. E. Y. Smith and Co., Ltd., against the direction to Ngita E. Sharpe to take up employment at the Wakari Hospital was partly heard, and the case was adjourned until Tuesday next.

There was no appearance of the appellant, Henry Cecil Smith, who appealed against the refusal of permission to terminate his employment at the Dunedin City Gasworks. Evidence was given by Mr Harold Horrocks, manager of the gasworks, and the case was adjourned.