LABOUR FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24568, 17 May 1945, Page 4

LABOUR FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND

«FURTHER DIRECTIONS UNLIKELY ”

REPLY TO MANUFACTURERS

, ”1 cannot commit myself 100 per cent., but I would say there is very little likelihood of further direction of labour from the South Island to the North Island,” said the Director of National Service (Mr H. L. Bockett) during a discussion with the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association last evening on recent criticism of the manpower regulations and the transference of workers. Dealing with male labour directed from the South Island to the North Island, Mr Bockett said that sawmill workers in limited numbers were directed two years ago because of the acute shortage of shipping making it impossible to transport timber, and the building of hospitals and stores to accommodate the country’s American friends who had come down to defend the Dominion against the Japanese attack.

Even to-day, the position regarding bushmen and sawmill workers in the North Island was acute, more so than in the South Island, but there was no intention of carrying the transfers further at this stage. When work eased off in the North Island, building workmen were given every encouragement to return to the South Island. No building worker could not return to the South Island if he wished to do so; there were a few left in the North Island.

Mr D. V. Wilson: Were they directed? Mr Bockett: Very few compulsorily. It was mainly arranged through the Builders’ Associations.

The.question of female labour appeared to be a burning one, said Mr Bockett. Labour had been transferred to Wellington for three main jobs—munitions, tobacco, and hospitals. Munitions contracts placed in uio nun Valley could not have been placed in any other centre in New Zealand. The right decision was made; it was the only place. It was a national job, and for that reason it was necessary to call for assistance from other centres to staff the contracts. The contracts were not completed, but he anticipated that they would gradually taper off. “I have no definite decision; but the whole question of munitions contracts is under review, and I anticipate a general easing of those contracts all round,” he added. Ninety per cent, of New Zealand’s tobacco goods were made in the Hutt Valley. -The department had no. hope of getting the factories even reasonably manned without calling on other districts for some help. He felt it was not unreasonable to call on other centres of populations which were receiving equitable distributions of tobacco, to help in its production. Only 10 girls from the South Island were at present engaged In the tobacco industry, Mr A. M. Hollander; Have the others returned? Mr Bockett; Yes,

Mainly V.A.D.’s had been transferred to the, Wellington hospitals, the development of which had been brought about mainly by the number of servicemen patients and the return of sick and wounded soldiers. Mr Socket t continued, ■ The department was not at all anxious in asking that V.A.D.’s should be directed to that work. No girls under 21 years of age were directed to Wellington. Moreover, girls were not directed from their home centres unless decent and adequate accommodation under proper supervision was provided. Incidence of Directions

Mr Bockett quoted the incidence of manpower directions. Directions' of males were the highest in Auckland, with 277 lor each 1000 of population, Lower Hutt having 219 and Wellington 209. Male directions from the South Island for each 1000 of the population were Oamaru 159, Invercargill 128, and Christchurch 125. In other words, 100 per cent, more males In Auckland were directed than in Christchurch.

Females directed per 1000 of the population in the North Island were:— Wellington 88, Lower Hutt 70, Auckland 71. For the South Island the incidence was:—Christchurch 39, Blenheim 37, Dunedin 36. Those, figures proved that the directions were 100 per more severe in the North Island- than in the South island.

"But that is not the whole story," he said. "If figures were taken out for the whole districts, as applied to the groups, industries generally in the South Island do not know that they are alive.’’

Mr Wilson argued that it was a vastly different story when Christchurch girls were transferred to Wellington. against Hutt Valley girls being transferred to Wellington. Is it not a fact that the employers in the South Island are more reliant and get their staffs without applying to the manpower?" asked Mr H. C. Urlwln. Mr Bockett; That may be so. In December last 599 South Island women were still in the North Island, but a large proportion were volunteers, said Mr Bockett. At present 228 girls who had been directed were in Wellington. 10 being in tobacco factories, 95 in munitions, and 123 in hospitals, compared with 56 last September. Mr Urlwin: Was it worth while? Mr Bockett: The labour position in Wellington was so difficult. The North Island had supplied 636 girls. All the directions had not been one way, he added. They overlooked that 1000 men had been sent down in 194344 from the North Island for the grain harvest.

A member: They were purely civilians.

Mr Bockett: They were taken from industry. This year sl6 were sent down. Mr A. W. Bascand: That was a voluntary procedure before the war. “Agreed," replied Mr Bockett. The men were called from industry into military camps to provide the labour. A member: But the North Island got the wheat.

.“And the South Island got the tobacco' and cigarettes," replied Mr Bockett. .