Manpower sought to assist 1974 Games

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 4

Manpower sought to assist 1974 Games

A committee of the Commonwealth Games organisation about which little has been heard so far, but which is now warming to its task, is the manpower committee under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr J. B. Collett). Mr Collett this week described his committee’s task as being to provide a reservoir of people from which the manpower needs of any of the other Games committees can be met. The calls, he said, were likely to be especially heavy in the weeks leading up to the Games and during the festival and so that the most suitable people could be quickly contacted a register will be compiled. Mr Collett said it was impossible at this stage to estimate the size of the work-force which would be required, but he thought it likely that the number would exceed 1000.

The type of people who will be needed are typists, clerical workers, gatekeepers, parking attendants, drivers, programme sellers, messengers—who will probably be drawn from boys’ organisations — waitresses and, as Mr Collett predicts, others who have not even been thought of yet. It was hoped, said Mr Collett, that various clubs and organisations would place members at the committee’s disposal and there had already been offers of help from such sources. To set the ball rolling, the manpower committee recently sent out more than 600 questionnaires to members of Commonwealth Games Promotion (New Zealand), the society which worked for and won Christchurch the 1974 Games. When these people joined the society many indicated a willingness to assist in the running of the Games. These questionnaires are to be returned by next Friday and Mr Collett said

it would not be until after all the information in them had been collated and set against the likely work-load that an accurate assessment could be made of the number required. Mr Collett said he was confident that people would come forward to fill the gaps and he believed the majority would give their services on a voluntary basis. In the questionnaire, the promotion body members are asked to indicate whether or not they are available and, if so. at what times and whether they expect to be paid. Mr Collett said it was hoped to have as many voluntary workers as possible, but people such as gate-keepers and parking attendants could hardly be expected to work without pay. The decision as to where the line would be drawn was something the organising committee would have to determine, he said.