N.Z. MAN-POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21354, 15 March 1944, Page 4

N.Z. MAN-POWER

“ESSENTIAL” TASKS POSITION OF FIT MEN CLUTHA MEMBER’S VIEWS (P.R.) WELLINGTON, March 15. The Government’s handling of the mail-power question was the object of criticism in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J. A. Roy (Opp.—ClutlYa) .who said that far too much had been made of “essential occupation,” arid tiiat in the final analysis no one was iridispensable.

Kepiying to the member for Raglan, Mr. P.'Coulter (Govt.), who' had asked what the Opposition was' goirig to do with the 'SOOO single men still engaged in farming, Mr. Roy said that the Opposition’s answer was that no preferential treatment was asked for any section of the community—ail sections should pull their weight. The responsibility belonged to the Government and in time of war no fit man should lie exempt. There were some eases of course where fit men had to be left in their jobs'as long a‘s possible, but the position had' been that one family could be bled' 'white because it had no grounds for appeal while other families had _ used the appeal boqrd to got. exemptions. No family should be allowed to be completely eliminated. In primary and other industries (there were still ial'ge numbers' of fit' single men whose 1 places' should be taken by second grade men and men who were at the front Men could nqt be kept at the front indefinitely. An over the maximum strain had been thrown into the fighting services, but in - production the Government had planned on a short war, a planning for which there had been no justification. Because of the Government’s riiis- . handling of the man-power problem, production'was'going down. Mr. fc. P. Meacheri' (Gov. —Marlborough). contended that some members' ori the Opposition side'had few scruplfes about ' appealing for A grade'men. 1 . Referring to the member for the Bay" of Plenty, Mr. W. Sullivan, Mr. Meachen alleged that “20 per cent of his present’staff: had been appealed for by the firm of which he is a principal.” Later he referred to a paper mill, where, he alleged, men were appealed for in dozens. Mr W. Sullivan explained that the nosition had been grossly misrepresented, adding that, 35 men who had been employed by his firm were now serving either in New Zegiand or overseas. Appeals had been lodged for only two A grade men, both, ot them key personnel. Since the return of the furlough draft an offer had been made to exchange a returned man with one of the men held on appeal.