LEAD WANTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 6

LEAD WANTED

USE OF MANPOWER

IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCTION

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. How long was the Government going to remain fogged on the manpower problem, asked Mr. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago), in the House of Representatives this morning.

The mover of the Address-in-Reply motion. Lieutenant-Commander Connolly (Govt, Dunedin West), had concentrated in his speech on a manpower report, said Mr. Bodkin, but it was the result of an inquest and had not a single recommendation to offer, while the whole country was crying to know what the Government proposed to do.

A Government member: What do you suggest?

"I suggest that labour should be made available," declared Mr. Bodkin. There had never been any doubt of the route the United Kingdom and United States should travel, but had a lead ever been given to the people of New Zealand? President Roosevelt had suggested that Australia and New Zealand should become the food baskets of the Pacific, but the Government had just muddled on with the question of manpower, although the importance of production must have been apparent.

The document was an excellent review, but he did ask why the Government had not indicated what it proposed to do. That report stated, "It may be added in conclusion that an examination of the utilisation of personnel in the forces may possibly result in the release of manpower for productive employment. Recommendations in this connection have already been made to the War Cabinet." But what was the War Cabinet or Government doing?

Question of Womanpoiver

Another part of the report stated that a survey of womanpower in the Air Force and Army was in hand, and arrangements had been made for a comprehensive and independent investigation of the utilisation of camps in the Dominion.

It was only now, apparently, added Mr. Bodkin, that an investigation was to be made into whether the women's services could be dispensed with in the forces and whether manpower in the camps was being properly utilised. He contended that a survey could have been made before women in the 31 to 40 age group were called on to register. It was found that that group was being called up before it was known how many hundreds, and possibly thousands, of young girls in uniform could be released.

In the general survey, concluded Mr. Bodkin, it was found that there were no fewer than four matters for consideration, but again there was not a single decision. Matters for consideration were: To contemplate the return of a Division; the diversion to farming of non-farming workers; the withdrawal of farmers from one or other of the Divisions; and the preservation and better utilisation of the existing forces of farm labour. It was a case of throwing it on the House and saying, "What would you like?" It did everything but ask the Government to take a stand, and decide something.