FARM MANPOWER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1943, Page 6

FARM MANPOWER

SINGLE GRADE I. MEN

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT

(0.C.) MAT AM AT A, this day. Reference to the position of single men in production was made by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., chairman of the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at a sitting in Matamata yesterday.

"As the board sees the policy directions issued by the War Cabinet," said Mr. Paterson, "the requirements of production greatly outweigh the requirements of the fighting forces. Producers have a very big job feeding the Pacific forces. If this can be done from Australia and here it means much shipping—a valuable point just now—will be saved.

"The Government wishes to replace as far as is possible all single Grade 1 men in production with Grade 2 men, but there are not nearly enough of the latter to go round. The 4000 single men required from this area cannot all be replaced. Some are of more benefit to the country as producers.

"Farmers have expressed concern as to whether they should keep single men in their employ or not; but they can rest assured that such will not be taken unless and until Grade 2 men are available to replace them. The manpower officer is doing that work, and as soon as he finds a suitable man he notifies the Appeal Board and the appeal of the single man is then immediately brought before the Appeal Board and dismissed."