CITY COUNCIL APPEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL APPEAL

SINGLE MAN’S SERVICES BOARD MEMBER’S COMMENT ”1 am against local bodies appealing for single men unless there is very distinct and strong evidence that efforts have been made to replace them," said Mr. T. R. Lees (Palmerston North), a member the No. 3 Armed Forces Appeal Board, when the Wanganui City Council appealed yesterday for Edward George Davis, a gas department employee, on grounds of public interest, The hearing was a review of a previous adjournment and after further evidence yesterday the board dismissed the appeal conditional on reservist not. being called up before April 30. Mr. W. J. Stone, manager of the Gas Department, said Davis was a plumber on essential work. The department was short of staff and replacing him would be very difficult. | Davis was engaged on servicing auto- ( matic water heaters, of which, there I wore about 400 in Wanganui. I Witness said in reply to Mr. Lees I that he had not advertised for a man to replace Davis since the adjournment of service nine months ago. He knew from experience and assoc’ation with other gas managers how difficult it. was to obtain skilled men. For this reason -he had not advertised, witness added. Mr. Lees commented that, in those circumstances the board would not feel very sympathetic to an appeal . for a single man. Evidence was also given by Walter = O. Casbolt, sales manager, Gas De- ; partment. who said there was an ■ acute shortage of plumbers in Wan- , ganui. Davis was a member of the . E.P.S. ! Questioned by Mr. Lees, witness , .Admitted that the work could he done by any certified plumber.