RECRUITING CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23500, 14 February 1940, Page 5

RECRUITING CONFERENCE

THE MAN-POWER PROBLEM « OCCUPATION COMPLETELY “ RESERVED " replacement plans [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. February 13. Announcing at the Recruiting ~ 011 , fcreSJT the decision to appoint local ma n-nower advisory committees, the Hon P P. C. Webb said experience up to the present indicated that while a schedlule* of reserved occupations was necessary as a policy guide, conditions changed so rapidly that there were f . if any, occupations that could justify complete and permanent reservation. Mr Webb said the Government fully realised the nature of the task it had undertaken to provide a constant supply of men for the Special Force in addition to the air service and home defence and at-■ the same time ensure that production in the Dominion was no only maintained, but that the people might be called upon to produce more. It was clear,■ that extraordinary measures would have to be resorted! to to fulfil these obligations,, and those men in essential occupations who were offering their services to the armed forces, but at the moment oould not be replaced, were again specially ap- : pealed to by the Government to assist in the huge task by sticking to their \ jobs until suitable men could be transferred to take their place. They could be assured that their non-acceptance was a purely temporary agreement and , that advantage of their offer to serve would be taken as soon as it was humanly possible to_ do sol In that connection the Minister pointed out that postponements were continuously under review and some • hundreds had already been allowed to Jiroceed to camp as the outcome. It md been decided to issue a suitable certificate of postponement to all men who bad!, volunteered for service overseas, but whose acceptance had been postponed by reason of their being engaged in essential work. It was felt that such a certificate should assist in preventing embarrassment to many ' young men who had offered their services '.but had not ben accepted for the reason stated. From 'a. study of the enlistments to date, Mr Webb said, it was found! that some thousands of men engaged in primary industries had volunteered, and in accordance with the policy agreed upon would be allowed to proceed > overseas . as they could be spared'. Obviously, therefore, preparations for replacements .would have to he made without delay to safeguard the production at the beginning of season. This replacement system would clearly entail the transfer of men from other walks of life, and although it would Involve some sacrifice to make a change, the Government felt sure they would do it willingly as their contribution to the war effort. The organisation of a system of replacement, the Minister said, included many major considerations, such as the utilisation of married men, and coni' sequently suitable housing would have jy to be arranged. The existing disparity f : in wage* was also a major issue as well j as the selection and training of the per r sonnel available. The Government however. had every confidence that the problem could be solved.

PROGRESS OF ENLISTMENT 27,341 REGISTRATIONS TO DATE The Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, reviewed the progress of recruiting, He said the total registrations to date were 27,341. Of these, 17.701 had been passed as fit, 4,201 were awaiting examination, 13,759 had been posted to camps, and there were 2,125 fit available for the third echelon. \ It was estimated, Mr Jones said, there were 2,940 fit in those to be examined, giving a' total of 5,065 available for the third echelon. Consequently only 753 men were required to complete it. i A Maori battalion was in camp, the Minister added, and there had been a wonderful response for men for the railway and forestry companies. Mr Jones said that, in addition to the men wanted for the Army, New. Zealand was supplying men for the Air Force. Already 4,300 had applied for positions as pilots, air gunners, and observers, and 2,000 had been interviewed, 849 passed as fit and 251 as temporarily

unfit. By the end of October 648 men would have been sent to Britain as fullytrained men, and towards the end of the year others would be sent to Canada to coniipleto their training. Great Britain had also asked for men for the Navy, Mr Jones said, and New Zealand would have supplied them, but it was not till a few days ago that the requirements were known. Arrangements were now being made to send R.N.V.R. men, mechanicians, tradesmen, and a small number of yachtsmen overseas. He could not say where they would be going. The main work of the committees, the Minister added, would be to find men to complete the third echelon and reinforcements to make good any casualties in the second New Zealand Division.