KEY MEN

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4561, 17 April 1942, Page 4

KEY MEN

POWER BOARD PROBLEM EXPERIENCED MEN IN CAMP Concern was expressed at a meeting of the Central Waikato Electric Power Board at Hamilton on Wednesday at the inroads made on the outside and office staffs of the Board by enlistments and ballots, there being now 25 of an original staff of 98 serving under the military authorities. A number of key men had gone into camp and in many instances these vacancies had been filled by young and comparatively inexperienced employees. It was the general opinion of members that if essential industries were to continue men engaged in those industries should be exempted from military service.

Mr F. L. Onion pointed out that a depleted staff had necessitated a curtailment in the prompt and efficient service the Board had been able to give consumers in the past, and it would be well if the public would fully appreciate this. Mr E. F. Peacocke queried why there should be such a rush to put men into camp when they could cater more for the Home Guard and leave men available for the more efficient conduct of industry. Commenting on the observation of the secretary-treasurer, Mr H. J. Beeche, that the labour problem was serious from the Board’s viewpoint, Mr Onion remarked that the labbur position would be soon as bad as on the farm. “You will have to bring in the wives and children to help you out,” he added.