ARMED SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 4

ARMED SERVICES

LOCAL FORCES

STRENGTH TO BE

REDUCED

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. February 5. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) today announced that a plan was being brought into operation which would enable some diminution to be made in the local defence forces. "The manner in which this plan is being executed will provide a maximum of strength and a high degree of flexibility, enabling us to mobilise to the full with the smallest possible delay should the threat to New Zealand again become serious,*" he said. "There is to be efficient military training of men who are released toj industry," Mr. Fraser explained. "This training will be given as far as possible at times most convenient for the industry. To release the men, through this arrangement will inevitably cause some inconvenience to industry, but this must be accepted as part of the price to be paid for the defence of New Zealand. "The Home Guard will continue to play a vital part in manning the defences in emergency. With the improved situation in the Pacific, however, the hours of obligatory training in the Home Guard have been reduced to eight a month for December, January, and February. Should the position deteriorate, it will be necessary to resume training on the old scale." RELAXATION OF E.P.S. Again because of improvement in the Pacific situation, some reorganisation of the E.P.S. had been rendered possible, the net result of which would be considerable relaxation, while at the same time ensuring that the burden may again be taken up should conditions warrant. "I should like to emphasise that the civil defence services are fundamental to successful defence if New Zealand should be attacked," Mr. Fraser added. "All those enrolled in civil defence units should therefore be trained and organised to be in readiness stfiould this time ever come." Speaking of industrial man-power, Mr. Fraser said Upwards of 160,000 men had been taken from industry for service in the Armed Forces, yet despite these large withdrawals and the sen-

ous difficulties with which industry had been faced, the structure of essential industry had been maintained and production for war purposes had increased remarkably. "As an example of the manner in which the labour force of the country has been organised, the following figures covering a recent industrial survey are significant. Of 77,000 men engaged in manufacturing industries, such as engineering, ship-building, the processing of foodstuffs, footwear, sawmilling, clothing, linen flax, fishing, woollen mills, and so on, 27,664 were engaged in civilian work, the remaining 49,336 or 58 per cent, being engaged on production for the Armed Forces for the Government and for certain export contracts. In the engineering industry, which employs nearly 17,000 workers, up to October last 16 per cent, of the time worked was devoted to production for domestic uses, the remaining 84 per cent, being devoted to work for the armed services, and for Governmental and export contracts."