ABSENCE FROM WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 2

ABSENCE FROM WORK

CASES IN CHRISTCHURCH FUTILITY OF REPORTING OFFENDERS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Api. 29. Although no detailed inquiry hai been made by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, reports which the association has received from several Christchurch factories are construed to indicate that absenteeism after the Easter holidays this year reached a fairly high level. .The cases of four factories complaining of absenteeism were quoted by the secretary of the association (Mr R. T. Alston) to-day, 146 employees out of a total of 1000 employed by the four factories, or 14.6 per cent., having been absent on Tuesday of this week. Of the four factories, Mr Alston said, one clothing factory employing 300 girls had reported that 50 were absent on Tuesday, and another clothing factory, with 200 employees, had reported 26 absentees. One boot factory had reported that 16 men and 17 girls were absent on Tuesday, with 13 girls still away to-day, the total employed being 300. A second boot factory employing 200 had 37 girls absent on Tuesday (representing a percentage of 18.5), with eight still away to-day. Mr Alston emphasised that all four of the factories were engaged on essential production. The district man-power officer (Mr M. Ross) said that his office had so far received complaints of absenteeism from three factories. Criticism that officially reporting cases of absenteeism had not had the slightest effect on its prevention was made by the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr A. M. Hollander). “While the manpower officer’s statement was perfectly correct in that very few cases of absenteeism were reported,” he said, “it is a fact that the reporting of absenteeism has not had the slightest effect on its prevention. Those manufacturers who have reported absenteeism in the past have not noted an improvement; as a result of doing so, and have reached the. unhappy state of mind where they do not report these things. It is a pity. One would have thought that some action would have been taken in the past, but people can stay away with impunity whether their action is reported or not, and those who do stay away have to a certain extent set an example to others who are waiting for a lead. The whole thing is most disconcerting to manufacturers, most of whom have definite contracts to perform.” Mr Hollander said he wished not so much to complain about anything said by the man-power officer as to correct any impression which might have been gained that there was very little absenteeism.