MANUFACTURERS’ DECISIONS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23805, 26 November 1942, Page 4

MANUFACTURERS’ DECISIONS

CABINET ACTION SOUGHT Recommendatiorfe on the Dominion’s manpower problems discussed at the recent conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation in Christchurch have since been considered by the federation’s council. The recommendations in their final form were released yesterday by the secretary of the federation (Mr D. I. Macdonald). They are:— “That the federation points out to Cabinet that, though many of the recommendations put forward by the federation have been adopted, the position regarding manpower foreshadowed in the federation’s memorandum to the War Cabinet on July 23 is developing rapidly, and as a result immediate action is imperative. Therefore, the federation makes the following recommendations for urgent consideration: “(a) That Cabinet frames a definite policy regarding the relative importance of armed forces personnel requirements as opposed to industrial manpower requirements, “(b) That Cabinet frames a definite policy as to what is essential and nonessential in production. “(c) That to save the enormous amount of wasted time, etc., consideration be given to the automatic protection of selected key men. irrespective of grading, in vital industries, and the automatic protection of grade 2 and grade 3 men in those industries where practically the whole of the output is war work. “(d) That to assist industries to facilitate rehabilitation and to save youths from the demoralising effect of inactivity and inadequate training, the service of youths from 18 to 21 years of age be confined to three months’ concentrated training per annum. “(e) That until such time as Cabinet has clearly defined the position covered by recommendations (a) and (b) the decisions of the armed forces appeal boards regarding exemptions and withdrawals from the Army be final.” Mr Macdonald, said that representations in line with recommendations (c) and (e) had already been made to the National Service Department. Officers of the federation would in the near future discuss (a) and (b) with the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), members of the War Cabinet, and Lieutenant-General E. Puttick.