The Auckland Star: WITH WICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1942. MANPOWER AND OVERSEAS FORCES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 307, 29 December 1942, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1942. MANPOWER AND OVERSEAS FORCES

"TWO days before Christmas about 32,000 married men in the age 1 group 41 to 45 received notices calling them up for service with the armed forces. The notices were expected, and many men had already adjusted themselves mentally to the prospect that early in the new year they would be leaving their civil occupations and joining one of the armed services "for the duration." There is comfort in certainty, and in this matter the War Cabinet's announcements appeared to show that it was "proceeding according to plan." If so, it would be interesting to know what the plan was, for apparently it is to be altered. On the day the ballot lists were issued, the Minister of National Service announced that "the whole question of the proper utilisation of manpower is to be reconsidered by the War Cabinet early next year," and he warned the balloted men not to take any action or leave their employment Lintll further notice. The proper place for reconsideration of "the who', pic Urn was the House of Representatives, which did not discuss it pul .:cly before the adjournment on December 4, but in this, as in other matters, Parliament appears to be impotent.

If this decision to reconsider has been brought about by some external event, perhaps one which has not been made known to the public, then the inconvenience and uncertainty which it necessarily causes will be cheerfully accepted. Inconvenience and uncertainty are often unavoidable in war; they are the least of its penalties. But circumstances suggest that this latest development does not follow any external event. Some of the ballot notices were posted in Wellington as early as December 10. Apparently they were held in local post offices until instructions were given fcr their delivery. If something unexpected happened to cause the War Cabinet to reconsider, the instruction to deliver them could have been withheld, especially as nothing in particular was gained by delivering them just before the holiday. The other, and more probable explanation of the Minister's statement, is that the War Cabinet has come, belatedly, to a full realisation cf the Dominion's mounting manpower difficulties, and of the absolute necessity of laying down what may be called a manpower stabilisation policy. Before it can do so, it must necessarily approach afresh the problem of military commitments, the prime source of the manpower shortage. Until some vital decisions have been taken about military commitments, "the proper utilisation of manpower in New Zealand" can hardly be determined except in a tentative, day-to-day manner that indicates, not the carrying out of a policy, but the lack of one.

Full recognition must be given to the fact that the War Cabinet this year has had to deal with a changing situation. In the first half of the year, arvd for two or three months longer, there was an imperative need to strengthen the Dominion's home defences in every possible way. There was a grave doubt whether the Japanese, or the Americans, would get here first, or—lf a serious attack on New Zealand was not in the plan—whether the Japanese would bestride Australia's and New Zealand's supply lines from the United States. The situation was such as to demand the intake, training and posting to defence positions of as large a force as possible In the shortest possible time. Everyone was forced by ominous events to appreciate that, if it came to defending New Zealand, the needs of civil industry (except such of it as would be needed to supply the forces and maintain the civil population with bare minimum needs) could receive no consideration. But that phase of the Pacific war has passed, we hope permanently. It has passed mainly because the United States marines drove the Japanese from a beachhead on Guadalcanar, and the United States Navy and air forces have heavily punished them in their repeated efforts to regain the positions thev lest. It Is believed that they have not abandoned their efforts, but confidence is high that as often as they come, so often will they be punished and repelled. '

,t n< : w situation, which was crystallised six weeks ago, when the united States Navy won a sweeping victory, obviously created the necessity for the War Cabinet to decide how the forces at its command should be utilised in the coming year. Some of the considerations dominant earlier this year are now less Important. As the direct threat Zealand has been reduced, it is reasonable to suppose that the home defence establishment may also be reduced. But what of overseas M°Sr S , A3 J? ng the Second N.Z.E.F. is maintained Tn the Middle East it must be reinforced, and if it entered a campaign on the European mainland It might require reinforcements for several years There is another force in the Pacific, at present acting as a garrison Concerning Its future use there has been no hint of the War Cabinet's Intention. If It is to go into the fight against the Japanese, or if through some enemy venture it should find Itself in the fight, it, too, will require and possibilities, now wide? appreciated, have given rise to a widespread belief that, militarily the Dominion Is over-committed. The War Cabinet, which alone has all th* facts knows whether that is so or not. If it is the ballot situation strongly supports the belief-the only prudent course is to decide, now, the dimensions of the military effort which New Zealand can continue to maintain, and to fix or reduce overseas rmnmitr«lrJl= accordh,gjy If .vents are allowed to take their course sucH dSfion will ultimately become inescapable. If It Is made now, the basis will Jt long last have been found for a "manpower policy," Without the basis there can be no such policy worth the name. ine Dasls »