N.Z. MAN-POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 11

N.Z. MAN-POWER

CO-ORDINATION PLAN COUNCIL TO BE CREATED MR. WEBB IN CHARGE (Per Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In a statement to-day, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, announced the decision of the Government that all questions relating to man-power will be placed under the direct jurisdiction of one Minister. The Hon. P. C. Webb will have control of this important part in the Dominion's war activities. Associated with him will be a central council consisting of one employers’ and one labour representative from each of the three councils appointed by the Government, viz., the Primary Production Council, the Factory Production Council, and the Industrial Emergency Council. The council also will include one senior officer representing the armed forces. The personnel will consist of men with wide experience in sheep and dairy farming, manufacturing and secondary industries, and the labour problems related thereto. Its general functions will be to inquire into and report upon all matters affecting the utilisation of the man-power of the Dominion in order to efficiently maintain essential services and production and to bring about the greatest effort to expand our resources to the full. The organisation will also provide valuable co-ordinating machinery of the other three councils and avoid entirely any overlapping/ that might occur.

Mr. Nash says that the Government does not desire to create new departmental machinery at this stage, and will utilise to the full existing departments with suitable organisation for the work.