MANPOWER SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 45, 17 November 1941, Page 5

MANPOWER SHORTAGE

Workers In Unessential Occupations CRITICISM BY M.P. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) STRATFORD, November 15- . Men wasted in training racehorses and in working in a ’‘wantonly expanded Civil Service”, who could be better employed in essential industry connected with the war effort of the Dominion were the subject of stringent comment by Mr. Polson, M.P., at the official opening of the Stratford Show today. ‘‘Farming is the essential industry upon which our future development hinges,” Mr. Polson said, ‘‘but we are faced with the possibility of a paralysis of all industry, and with destruction and enslavement such as first befell the Poles and then the other nations of Europe. One would imagine that such a possibility would arouse the country to a concentration of effort that would fit every unit of human labour into its essential niche. “One would suppose that before telling the farmers to carry on, and in some instances compelling them to carry on. whether they have labour or oven health to do so. our authorities would comb over some of the unessential occupations which cater often to pleasure and sometimes to selfishness, and would have transferred their labour power to industries whirl) fire essential. "To ask women to do more than they are already doing, or to enrol, school children while grown men unrestrictedly devote their time to such things as horse training and racing, and to employment in a wantonly extended Civil Service, is to show disregard for the dangers that lie ahead and a failure to lead the country in the internal organization of the war effort. In a time of national peril that is a reckless gambling with fate. “I say these things -with regret because they need saying, and because the necessity for action grows daily greater. We are calling up married men next, find soon the shortage of manpower must gravely affect, essential production on farms. Boys, we were told on the radio on Thursday, are to have instilled into them their responsibilities as war workers on farms. What about instilling a sense of responsibility ipto the army of those in unessential occupations first? Why give the hard jobs to the women and tlie children?