DIRECTED LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23186, 27 April 1945, Page 4

DIRECTED LABOUR

Lack Of Interest In Work (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 26. The fact that men recently directed to the freezing industry were not taking an interest in the work was mentioned by the employment officer for the Westfield Freezing Co., Mr E. K. Baxter, who appeared before No. la Armed Forces Appeal Board to seek exemption from military service for 113 employees. Of the reservists 35 had served in the Pacific with the Third Division.

For the crown, Mr G. E. Mortimer said that appeals concerning 58 of the company’s unskilled men had been determined- by the Board on April 14, when the Manpower Utilisation Council recommended that they should be made available for camp. On this occasion the recommendation was that the cases be adjourned sine die as the reservists were either skilled workers or married men with family obligations. About 80 men were required throughout the whole works at the present time, said Mr Baxter. Since he was before the Board on April 14 a number of workers had been directed to the company, and this had assisted the position. As far as labourers were concerned, he said, the directed men were not interested in the work as they were only there for a short period. It was most difficult to make anything of them, and they were not suitable for replacing experienced men such as those whose cases were before the Board. In the old days men who came to the works were Interested and keen to get on to the chain.

The appeals concerning the reservists who produced evidence that they had already served overseas or who had three children were adjourned sine die. In the remaining cases the Board reserved its decision.