WAR DEMANDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 4

WAR DEMANDS

MANPOWER PROBLEMS

"SACRIFICE FOR VICTORY"

(0.C.) WELLINGTON, this day

"Not only must we work for vic'tory, but we must also sacrifice for victory," stated Mr. \V. W. Mulholland in his presidential address to (he Dominion conference of the New Zealand Fanners." Union to-dav.

"Pleasant privileges must be forepone if they impede the war effort. It is perhaps unfortunate that in discussion on the desirability of lengthening hours of work, the term '40-hour week' should have boon so prominent. This has seemed U> indicate that an attack on that policy was being made. Certainly the workers have every right to demand that ihe war lie not used as a means of permanently depriving them of privileges which they have obtained. "Unequivocally the assurance should be given with all war measures that ihe position will revert to what it was at the beginning of the war. Hut there is a real war problem. We will soon have withdrawn for war purposes 100.000 workers from industry in New Zealand, with thousands 'more to follow as the war continues.

"We urgently require that our factory production in certain lines must be largely increased. We must do much work with much less labour ir we arc to win. It. is not a question of the -10-hour week. It. is a question of each one giving the utmost service which he can to the common cause.

"The Industrial Emergency Council met the situation which'existed quite well and has given valuable service. But the principle of its operation is that it acts only when an industry can show that it is in trouble. The circumstances to-day require that every industry shall work with a minimum of workers so as to make available the greatest possible new manpower to those industries which are hampered by shortage of labour.

"Ihe function of the committee fhould he varied from that of deeding when an industry is in such a state that it cannot meet the demands upon it without an extension of hours, to that, of deciding that extended hours will not enable an industry to increase production or carry on with reduced manpower, and except in those cases at least, a 44-hour week should be worked There is no objection on the part of workers generally to working longer hours to assist in this crists " asserted Mr. Mulholland.