DEFENCE WORK FIRST

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23586, 13 March 1942, Page 6

DEFENCE WORK FIRST

ABSOLUTE* PRIORITY GIVEN SPECIAL COMMISSIONER’S TASK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 12. Absolute priority for defence work in New, Zealand has been determined on by tiie Government. To ensure this, and also the proper co-ordination of the activities of all departments in the execution of all defence work,, a Defence Construction Council is being set up, and the appointment of Mr James Fletcher as Commissioner ox Defence Production was announced by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) this afternoon. The members of the council are the Prime Minister, the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong). Messrs James Fletcher, W. L. Newnham (Chief Engineer to the Public Works Department), G. W. Albertson (Director of Housing), and A. B. Taylor (Treasury). The chairman is the Prime Minister, and the vice-chairman Mr Fletcher. “With New Zealand on a war footing all civil activities must be subordinated to one overriding necessity—the urgent completion of a greatly enlarged defence construction programme,” said Mr Fraser. “It will be Mr Fletcher’s function to carry this through and as Commissioner he is charged with the organisation and promotion of all defence works. He will determine the order of urgency of various projects, and will ensure the supply of materials, plant, and labour for their speedy prosecution. “Provision has also been made for the Commissioner to give directions to any officers of the Public Service whose assistance and co-operation may be required. His powers have been made as wide as possible, and he may direct any constructional work whether commenced by the Crown, a local authority, a public body, or other persons to be stopped. With the approval of the Minister for Public Works he may direct contracts for defence works to be let and after consultation with the Defence Construction Council, direct labour materials and plant to be made available for any defence works at such places and times as he thinks fit.

“Subject only to special directions by the Prime Minister, it will be the duty of all officers to cany out the directions of the Commissioner and where necessary their respective Ministers will authorise and direct Ihem to do so.”

IMr Fraser added that when Mr Fletcher was offered the appointment he readily accepted it and said he would for the duration of the war, and jvithout remuneration, place his services at the disposal of the Governinent. .His example in serving without salary in a post of such vital importance would be warmly appreciated by the people of the Dominion who had been familiar for years with his activities, and those of his firm in major construction works. : “There is no doubt that Mr Fletcher is the right man for this vitally important job,” added Mr Fraser, "and I 8m sure the fullest and widest co-opera-•tion will be extended to him in his lask.” '

SUPPORT BY WORKERS

GOVERNMENT’S SCHEME EXPLAINED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 12. A resolution pledging support to the Government’s scheme of absolute priority for defence works was adopted at a meeting to-night of representatives of the workers' organisations in the building industry, including the Public Works Department, after hearing an explanation of the hew proposals and the reasons for them from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser). The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) and the Commissioner for Defence Construction. (Mr James Fletcher).

Mr Fraser appealed to the workers to co-operate wholeheartedly with the Commissioner in pushing ahead v the ■construction of defence wofks that ■ were urgently required. They owed it .not only to the people of this country, but to the democracies of the world to leave .no stone unturned to protect New Zealand. The very lives of the people were in jeopardy and any slackening of effort would be fatal.