BIG CALL-UP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 6

BIG CALL-UP

j MEN FOR OVERSEAS

WORKERS IN INDUSTRY

O.C. WELLINGTON, this day. " "The maintenance of the Second Division and the implementing of the replacement scheme must be regarded as the highest priority among the manpower problems which face New. Zealand to-day." said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, this afternoon, in announcing a comprehensive review of men at present held on appeal. "It is essential," said Mr. Fraser, "that the repatriation of the longservice personnel in the Second Division should be carried out, and this can only be made possible by the provision of adequate replacement personnel from New Zealand, and therefore substantial replacement drafts must be sent overseas in the next few months. New Zealand has now reached the stage where all available men have seen service or are serving in the armed forces except for those still held on appeal in essential industi-y and those who come of age every year. "Future drafts for the Middle East must, for the most part, comprise category A men at present retained in industry, and armed forces appeal boards, on instructions from War Cabinet, have now commenced an urgent and rigorous review of all men held on appeal. "It is necessary that there shall be no delay, in the carrying out of the long-service repatriation scheme and this can only be done if adequate replacements are forthcoming," continued Mr. Fraser. Substantial Withdrawal "Therefore all category A men who can possibly be spared from industry must be mobilised without anv delay. As the dispatch of the replacement drafts cannot.await the prior return and replacement in industry of the long-service personnel being repatriated, there will, unfortunately, be a period during which industry as a whole must be subject to a fairly substantial withdrawal of manpower, notwithstanding that this may cause inconvenience to many employers. "The review of appeals will be a very comprehensive one and on this occasion the farming industry will be included. It is hoped that by a redistribution of labour in the farming industry, coupled with the fact that by the time the next season is in full swing many of the long service men will have returned to New Zealand, the effect on production of the present call-up of men will not be materially felt. New Zealand rnust keep faith with the veterans of the Second Diivsion who are still overseas and this can only be done if men at present held in industry take their, places." .