ORGANIZING MANPOWER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 51, 24 November 1941, Page 6

ORGANIZING MANPOWER

Though two members of the Ministry addressed the annual conference of the Manufacturers’ Federation, it was left to the Director of National Service, Mr. J. S. Hunter, to announce that there was under consideration a scheme for the better utilization o the manpower of the Dominion. The Minister of Labour followed with an endorsement of what Mr. Hunter had said were his persona. ' views and added that he thought they interpreted fully the policy of the Government. That endorsement added to the interest which will be taken in the suggestions mentioned. They, included an extension of hours in industry, the closing down or tapering-off of less essential industries, the wider use of women workers, redistribution of labour, zoning and pooling of plant, reallocation of orders and the prevention of labour from leaving essential industries. Though there is nothing original in these proposals, for they have been enforced in Great Britain, no one could say that any or all of them will not become necessary here. But there is a natural order into which they fall, so that their adoption may be gradual and as circumstances dictate. There would be no ground foi regimenting employment along the lines mentioned until all the labour available was being used to the maximum advantage. That must be the first aim, and when it has been achieved, and. the results studied, then the next step deemed essential can be authorized. Such a course would have the least unsettling effect on industrial and national activities and there is no need to stress the advantages to be derived from effecting any changes as smoothly as possible. It could not be said that the Dominion is using its available manpower to the maximum while any section of the community works only 40 hours weekly. If there are industries which can meet the demand with employment on a 40-hour basis then clearly the adoption of a longer working week would release some employees for service in other avenues and thus, without any serious interruption, pave the way for the transference, on a larger scale, which may become neces- . sary at a later stage. It is not simply a question of whether, an industry, wants to extend hours, as the Minister of Labour implied. If it does not want to there would still be an increase in the labour available for essential industries if the longer week were worked by a reduced staff, and it is for just that purpose that the manpower resources of the country must be reviewed. If a factory employing, say, 20 men on a 40-hour basis, could maintain its output with 18 men working 44 hours that would enable two workers to be engaged in some other essential industry, and surely that is the objective of the authorities. While there is, in the longer working period, a potential reserve of productive capacity then it becomes the duty of the authorities, in the national interests, to see that it is turned to the best possible advantage in a time of crisis.