ESSENTIAL WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 6

ESSENTIAL WORK

TRANSFER OF LABOUR ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM Wellington, Oct. 12. Since it was first found necessary to take action to build up the country’s industrial labour strength where it could be most effective to the war effort, just over 7000 workers in non-essential employment have been drafted to essential jobs. Of this total approximately 6000 are men. In certain districts there are still pools of labour untouched, but the transfer of these men and women to areas where essential works are concentrated is largely handicapped by the lack of accommodation for them. In several areas the problem is acute, notably in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, and offers of accommodation from residents for war workers would be welcomed by the manpower authorities. A gratifying feature has been the willingness of most workers to abide by the direction given them. The latest figures show that only 388 appeals against transfer had been lodged and of these 85 were withdrawn, 140 dismissed, 109 upheld, and 54 unheard. The low proportion of appeals indicates that the manpower officers arc being careful in their direction. It is interesting to note that of the 388 appeals 256 were from employers who were losing staff, and only 132 were from the persons who were the subject of the direction. The number of applications to transfer employees from essential work to other work received up to the end of August last was 25,550, of which 10,552 came from employers and 14,998 from employees. Those figures cover season workers. In 12 per cent, of the cases permission to terminate employment was withheld, and in those cases where permission was granted, 4541 employees transferred to other employers in the same industry, and 8231 transferred to other essential industries. Only 1399 were transferred to non-essential industrv, and 3704 were lost to industry for various reasons, such as marriage by women and ill health and retirement.

In respect of all those decisions only 332 appeals were made. Of these 163 were dismissed, 70 upheld, 30 withdrawn, and 69 are not yet heard. At the present time there are 3855 vacancies for men unsatisfied in essential industry and unable to be satisfied with the resources available at the middle of last month. The similar number of vacancies for women is 1598. These figures do not represent the full dejnand, as many employers know that the manpower authorities cannot satisfy their particular needs, and do not bother to make them known.