FEMALE DEFAULTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 2

FEMALE DEFAULTERS

CAMPAIGN BY MAN-POWER AUTHORITIES (Special)' WELLINGTON, July 13. The drive organised by the man- 1 power authorities in Wellington, and subsequently taken up in other centres, as a means of locating defaulters, principally female, under the , Industrial Man-power Emergency Regulations, is being prosecuted vigorously and with results fully justifying the activities pursued to date, said a man-power official. The first drive was conducted in Wellington during May, when people frequenting hotels and places of amusement during working hours were questioned. Within the first fortnight of the campaign 40 persons were interrogated. Within a month the tally had risen to 100, and to date upward of 300 persons have been so questioned. They are all persons covered by the regulations. A considerable improvement has been noted by the authorities in the areas already covered. In the early stages of the investigations by the man-power authorities it was found that between 70 ■and 80 per cent, of the persons questioned were defaulters under the regulations, or were absent from work without piermission. Fines were inflicted on a large number of the absentees, who have averaged 50 a month since Easter. ' "■

Co-operation between the man-power officers at the various centres has increased the efficiency of the * activities of the authorities. In the past a defaulter could evade her responsibility by moving from place to place: The excuse of being on holiday was the most usual reply. Such statements can now be verified.