MANPOWER IN ARMED FORCES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 205, 27 May 1944, Page 8

MANPOWER IN ARMED FORCES

Committee To Investigate REQUIREMENTS OF CIVIL EMPLOYMENT The appointment of a civilian committee to investigate the proper utilization of manpower in the armed services and to make recommendations to the Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones, was announced by the Minister yesterday. The personnel of the committee is as follows:- — Mr. A. D. Park, C.M.G. (chairman), a director of the State Advances Corporation and former Secretary to the Treasury; Mr. J. H. Boyes (deputychairman), Public Service Commissioner; Mr. H. L. Bockett (Director of National Service Department) ; Mr. W. R. Clarke (who has been a member of the Armed Forces Appeal Board. Dunedin), secretary of the Seamen’s Union, Dunedin; Mr. lan M. Matheson (New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation) ; Mr. L. G. Lowry, M.P. for Otaki, who served in the last war: Mr. T. L. Macdonald. M.P. for Mataura, who has served in both the last and the present wars. “As soon as it was seen that, the danger to New Zealand as far as the Japanese menace was concerned had diminished, action was taken to reduce the number of men serving on the home front, and this included the demobilization of the Home Guard.” said the Minister. "In addition directions. were given for the release of men wherever possible in order to relieve the strain on essential industries. Considerable progress has been made in this connexion, but as the demands for the service of men in civil euiplpyment are still tremendously heavy action has now been taken to set up a committee to investigate the proper, utilization of manpower in the armed services, having regard to the requirements of the services and of civil employment. This committee will make recommendations to me from time to time.” . , ~ The Minister said that each of the Chiefs of Staff would appoint a service representative to be associated "witli tue committee whenever matters concerning his particular service were being considered, such representatives to have no voting power. The committee was to investigate the whole matter generally as soon as possible, and would inquire into such particular matters from time to time as the Minister referred to it. or as the committee thought fit. When an investigation of a somewhat similar nature was made nt the end of the last war, Mr. Park, who was then an inspector on the staff, of the Public Service Commissioner, was selected to undertake this work. Mr. Jones added that he was keenly anxious to see that the services of those who were in the Army. Navy and Air Force in New Zealand were being utilized to the maximum extent.