INDUSTRIAL MAN-POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25372, 2 November 1943, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL MAN-POWER

COMMITTEE HEARS APPEALS

The Industrial Man-power Appeal Committee—Messrs M. W. Grantham (chairman), S. D. Macpherson, and H. H. Gillard—was engaged yesterday afternoon in hearing appeals against the decisions or directions of the district man-power officer, Mr E. A. Selman. “ Surely a married man with war service should not be dismissed while single men of 19 and 20 years of age are retained,” said Michael James O’Connor, a labourer, who appealed against the granting of permission to the Department of Housing Construction to terminate his employment. He stated that he had served for four years and eight months in the Great War and had been in camp for one year during the present war. He was " man-powered ” out of camp and directed to his present employment of loading and unloading prefabricated huts. He was a married man with two dependent children. No information had been given to him that his work was unsatisfactory.—The assistant man-power officer, Mr J. H. Flowers, said that he felt that the employer had the right to judge who should be dismissed.—Mr L. G. Eagles, chief clerk of the department, stated that, as the work had decreased, it was decided to dispense with the services of five men. Men who w.ould be of most use to the department were retained. The work was of a temporary nature, and it would not be long before all the men were dismissed.—Decision was reserved. John McGregor, and Co., Ltd. (Mr A. Duncan), appealed against the direction that P. Chandler, A. J. Rae, and J. T. Sherwood, at present employed by the appellant firm, should accept employment with the Stevenson and Cook Engineering Company, Ltd., as fitters at Port Chalmers for three weeks.—Decision was reserved. Mrs E. H. Race appealed against the direction of her daughter, Miss Hannah Ethel Race, to accept employment with the New Zealand Wax Vesta Company as a factory hand.—Decision was reserved.