FARM IMPLEMENT PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24094, 2 November 1943, Page 6

FARM IMPLEMENT PRODUCTION

NO DIVERSION OF LABOUR

“CLOSE RELATION TO FOOD POSITION”

Because the production of agricultural implements is closely related to the food position, the Controller of Manpower (Mr H. L. Bockett) has instructed district manpower officers at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin not to divert men from this industry when tradesmen are required for other urgent work, including ship building and repair. Advice tc this effect has been received by the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation from Mr Bockett. ~ . ~ , Representatives of the agricultural implement manufacturing industry discussed the manpower position with Mr Bockett at the end of September, and the need to protect the existing manpower in the industry, in order to maintain the production of essential agricultural and farm implements for 1944, was emphasised Mr Bockett’s letter to the federation also deals with the difficulty of increasing manpower available in the industry “So far as augmenting the number of tradesmen engaged in the industry is concerned I would point out that there are no engineering tradesmen in the Army the release of whom could be obtained, and in the circumstances I do not know to what extent it will be possible to assist these concerns with the supply of additional tradesmen,” writes Mr Bockett. “However, if you will let me have a list of the specific vacancies I shall be pleased to forward them to the manpower officers concerned with instructions that they endeavour to obtain suitable men for this work.

Mr R. T. Alston, secretary to the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, said yesterday that the federation had requested that the information asked for should be collected and sent on to the federation for collation. The specific vacancies in each firm would be those which would have to be filled to enable the firm to undertake its programmed production for 1944, particulars of which would already have been sent to the Ministry of Supply.