MEN HELD ON APPEAL

Southland Times, Issue 25641, 7 April 1945, Page 3

MEN HELD ON APPEAL

NEED FOR FINDING SUBSTITUTES

“It is hardly fair to hold a man on appeal for four years and not take any steps to train another man to replace him,” said Mr D. H. Cockburn at the sitting of the Southland Armed Forces Appeal Board in Invercargill yesterday. The case was one in which Dairy Products Ltd., Edendale, appealed for three employees, F. Shields, refinery operator, J. Stirling, lorry hand, and T. B.Youngson, dairy factory hand. The works manager of the appellant company, Mr M. D. Turner, said that the products of the company were urgently required and it was impossible to get sufficient staff. Four members of the staff were at present serving overseas. Mr R. B. Smyth (for the National Service Department): You appreciate the necessity of training understudies to take the place of men held on appeal?—Yes. In the case of Shields you have done nothing to train a man to take his place —That is so, but there is a lack of suitable men. TRAINING PERIOD

You have held Shields on appeal for four years and yet you have admitted that a man to take the place of Shields could be trained in two seasons?—Yes, r if a satisfactory man could be found.

Mr Cockburn: You do not seem even to have commenced training a man or taken any steps to have one trained. Mr Smyth, referring to the appeal for Stirling, said that three years ago this reservist expressed a desire to join the armed forces if he were released. This was the type of man who should be released. He was not a key man and the firm should have been able to find a substitute in three years as it was not impossible to get lorry drivers. Witness: We have no one to take Stirling’s place. Mr Smyth: No, but you should have had someone by now. The appeals fop Shields and Youngson were dismissed and the appeal for Stirling was adjourned sine die. It was stated that Stirling, besides driving a special type of lorry, could also take his place as a refinery operator.