HAMPERED PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 4

HAMPERED PRODUCTION

OBSTINATE ADHERENCE TO PEACE CONDITIONS RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 9. The hampering of production for war purposes by restrictions on working conditions and adherence to peace-time standards of living in the Dominion was deplored at a meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production to-day. Several resolutions urging that steps should be taken to remove the impediments and obstacles to. fuller production in essential industries were adopted. Colonel Noel Adams said he feared that New Zealand had not yet come to a realisation of the position. “ There are dozens of organisations such as ours trying their utmost to get busy in stimulating production, hut there is a clogging of activity that defeats much of our work,” he said. In regard to production, he considered that, where materials could be found, then the industries concerned should be working 24 hours a day. “ It is no use mincing matters, and I do not believe we have anything like a maximum effort,” he said. “I am sure that 90 per cent, of the poeplo will go ahead with a united war effort if given a lead. We have not had that lead. We ought to face up to the position.” The chairman, Mr R. C. Clark, said that if mill owners and workers were anxious to develop production some attempt should be made to find out what was holding them back. - : “We hear Ministers saying that New Zealand is 100 per cent, behind the Empire war effort. It is not the workers nor the employers, but the spirit in the country that is wrong,” Mr J. Mackie said. “It is fostered by the heads of the Government, and until a better spirit comes from those in authority I cannot see any hope of any improvement.”

Colonel Adams said that in cases where production was being held up he was prepared to suggest that, to ensure the maximum output, the Government should take control of the industry concerned for the period of the war. This was already being done in the United States.

A resolution along these lines was adopted. The following resolution was also adopted:—“That' essential industries where labour and materials are available should be given an of increasing their output by working double, or, if necessary, treble shifts, and that any regulations or legislation preventing this should be suitably dealt with. As an example might be quoted the wool trade, where, despite the existence of factories and materials, there is a definite shortage of woollen products. It is further suggested that the National Council of Primary Production should approach the Industrial Efficiency Council and place before it the position regarding wool.” The following resolution was later adopted:—“ That during the war period all restriction on the employment cf female labour and all Arbitration Court awards should be suspended.”