LABOUR DEPARTMENT CRITICISED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22202, 20 February 1942, Page 4

LABOUR DEPARTMENT CRITICISED

Comment Before Manpower Committee “The Labour Department does not seem to realise that there is a war on” commented Mr W. H. Walton when conductiong the appeal of Alfred John Caswell, plumber, before the Manpower Committee in Timaru yesterday. Caswell appealed tor release from camp on the grounds of hardship and public interest. Mr Walton said that the appellant had joined the National Reserve when he was an employee of Mr G. G. Lewis. Since then Mr Lewis had retired, and appellant had taken over the business. When he was called into camp appellant arranged with Mr Lewis to carry on with the assistance of an apprentice. After appellant entered camp the apprentice was called up, and both appellant and Mr Lewis approached the Labour Department with a request that permission be granted for the employment of another apprentice. The inspector, Mr A. J. Weir, advised them that they could not employ another apprentice until after the present apprentice had been in camp for four months. They could employ a message boy, but the moment he touched the tools he became a tradesman. Mr Walton added that the Army Department was doing its best for the country, and the Labour Department seemed to be doing its best to ruin many businesses. One would have anticipated some sort of collaboration or co-operation between the Army Department and the Labour Department. The Labour Department did not sefem to realise that peace-time principles, rules and regulations could not be employed in industry when so many men were serving in the Interests of the country. Mr Walton said that out of 38 plumbers in the town, only 26 were left. At least there were eight master plumbers left, 12 journeymen and six apprentices. In the event of an emergency, it was most desirable in the interests of public health, that qualified plumbers should be available Decision was reserved.