NO MARGIN FOR LASTED EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1942, Page 4

NO MARGIN FOR LASTED EFFORT

The meeting of Parliament tomorrow provides ah Opportunity for the GovemmenttO Make known its plans for dealing with the pressing prdblem of manpower., For reasons of security some aspects' of the question cannot be discussed publicly, but there, should be nothing to prevent the Government informing the people in general terms the policy' it is following and intends to follow in the future* New Zealand has important commitments at home and overseas. There is in the first place ihe division serving in the Middle East, Recent casualty* lists :■ have raised the issue of Ksiiiforcements. fhhre r division must be maintained, and this obligation must take a first place in the Dominion^ c) titter New Zealand lias also undertaken certain commitments in the Southi West Pacificj and, in addition, must provide for its own defence. Further and linked with these Army calls affe comniitiiients to the Air Force, and the Navy / and munition and equipment industries. How does the Government intend to meet all these' requirements and at the same time provide for essential civilian heeds? Everybody in the communityis vitally concerned and is entitled to know on What lines the Oovernmeht is proceeding. Further sacHft'ces are ahead-, attdj so that they may be cheerfully accepted, the aedple should be told in plain language Why they are necessary. Failure on the part of the Government to take the people more into its confidence, as far as can be done in safety, has probably contributed in a. measure to the criticism recently about the man'paWet administration, It has been suggested, for instance, that too many men are being:sent ihtd tlie Army at the expense of industry and that all tlie men called up are not being trained and used to the best advantage. These and other questions should be the subject of lull discussion yin Parliament, and the Government should give members and die jpublic the fullest possible information, The man-power position has reached the stage at which it is neceSSary to ensure that there is no Wasted effort, .-■: either in the Armed Forces or in industry. Every ittan and .woman must be Used where the effort tj'an be most profitable; There is*no margin to allow for slackness of any kind. This involves careful planning and Idmiilistration, and it also involves a ready response on tlie part' of thie public. If the Govern- j nient plays its part, the public will play their&y and they will do it all the More Willingly if they are told j what is exfieete^ of them. The opportunity provided by tlie meeting of Parliament for lavitig thfc fullest j possible information before the j public should siot be missed.