MAN-POWER ABOLITION

Evening Star, Issue 25567, 21 August 1945, Page 6

MAN-POWER ABOLITION

SCEPTICAL AUSTRALIAN COMMENT

" CONTROL IN ANOTHER GUISE"

(N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent.) < Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 20. A feeling of satisfaction and relief at the War Cabinet’s decision to revoke man-power controls has been tempered by the fear that more subtle means of controlling labour is being adopted. The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’s ’ Canberra correspondent says that most observers there believe that Cabinet’s decision “ to revoke entirely the power of direction of labour ” must remain technical and illusory until unimpeded rights to engage labour are restored to industry and commerce. The decision to restore those rights only 'to a minority group of selected industries is. a concealed form of direction of labour] which cannot have freedom while bureaucracy restricts its fields of choice of occupation. The only persons free to take employment of their own choosing as a result of the War Cabinet’s decision are persons under 18 years and those who are qualified and eager to work in industries of the minority group specified. ' These facts became clear from inquiries at the week-end about the real meaning of man-power decisions announced after the War Cabinet meeting. The Government has issued a list of industries in which employers from now on will be permitted to advertise for and engage labour without obtaining a permit from the National Service Office.

The ' Sydney Morning Herald,’ in an editorial, says: “The public will want to know a good deal more about Cabinet’s swiftly-produced man-power proposals before concluding that this most, obnoxious of war controls is really on the way out. What the Government describes as the lifting of all man-power controls not considered essential to the speedy re-establishment of servicemen and war workers looks more like the retention of control in another guise.”. Much criticism lias followed Cabinet’s decision to lift restrictions on building up to £1,200. It was described as an empty gesture unless man power and materials are made available to builders. The secretary of the New South Wales Co-operative Building Societies, Mr W. G. Pooley, said the relaxation of restrictions was likely to cause' chaotic conditions unless men could be induced to work on the production of building materials. Control should have been relaxed gradually as materials became available. As it is. any persons, including speculative builders, who do not need homes at all. are at liberty to join the rush for what materials there are.” The War Cabinet has devoted much of its attention to 'the immense complexities of demobilisation. Demobilisation means man power, and until man power is available home building cannot be speeded up. The weary housewife cannot get a'resumption of household deliveries. Clothes and food rationing must continue. Transport cannot be improved, and cigarettes and beer will continue on the quota basis. Tyres cannot be produced in sufficient quantities for general use, and industry cannot switch to producing sufficient civilian needs.