SURVEY OF NEW ZEALAND MAN POWER

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 5

SURVEY OF NEW ZEALAND MAN POWER

NATIONAL REGISTER TO BE ESTABLISHED

Replacement of Volunteers in Essential Occupations

[Per Press Association ] WELLINGTON, February 13. The establishment of a national register as part of the general scheme for surveying New Zealand s man-power was announced by the Deputy-Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) when opening the conference called to discuss and prepare plans for a Dominion-wide recruiting drive. Mr. Fraser also reaffirmed the Government’s policy of a voluntary system of enlistment, and emphasised that every endeavour should be directed toward making that effort a success. . The Defence Minister (Hon. r. Jones) presided, and with him was ' the Minister of Industries and Com-| merce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan). At the outset Mr. Fraser expressed great pleasure at the safe arrival of the New Zealand troops in Egypt, it was a matter for great gratification that a journey that might have been attended by the greatest possible danger, had been accomplished successbin’thanking the local recruiting committee for its work since the war started, he said it could not be claimed that the country had put forward its maximum effort. A great deal of work had been done, but it was felt there was need for national co-ordi-nation and co-operation, and that the country should be aroused to realise the position in which the British Commonwealth, indeed civilisation, found itself at the present time. Mr. Fraser briefly referred to the report of the man-power committee, and announced there would be no absolutely exempted industry. Applications would be considered on their merits. In certain cases, men might have to be told they could not get away until they could be replaced. The job of replacement would be big, but one committee intended to undertake another thing. Before the man-power situation could be properly adjusted, there must be a survey of the whole available manpower of the whole population. That brought them to the question of a , national register. Before the economic life of the country, apart from

the war effort, could be thoroughly organised, facts concerning the men’s occupations and capabilities must be known. Forms relating to social security were now being printed, and the information collected therein, would form the basis of a national register. Concluding, Mr. Fraser said the meeting was for considering the best means of fulfilling the pledge to the [ United Kingdom and other nations of the British Commonwealth and to the Allies.

N.Z. WAR SUPPLIES. The problem of supplying the essential requirements for both troops and civil population, was outlined by Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who said that after consideration of the potentialities of New Zealand production, it had been decided to maintain the troops overseas in clothing and footwear. This was a new departure, but was being done at the request of the War Office, such things as drill uniforms, braces, kit-bags, etc., which was not of local material, would not be supplied. The Minister stressed that the inspection system was meticulous, and the response of the manufacturers for quality was such that few rejections had to be made. He. stressed the importance of key men in industry, and said that if they were not retained, the Dominion’s war effort would suffer, for these men was in itself sufficient justification for taking the national register.

MAN POWER CONSERVATION. In a statement released by Mr. Webb, Minister-in-Charge of Man- i Power Hon. P. Webb states that up to the'present time, postponements of acceptance of men for service had been decided upon by Departmental ; officers of the Army and State ■ Placement Service, acting in collaboration, and as directed in the sched- : ule adopted by the Government of : those occupations which had been regarded as highly important. After very careful consideration, the Gov- : ernmet had decided to appoint local man-power advisory committees to consider all such cases. The com- . mittees would utilise the existing machinery and consist of three members, one nominated by the employers’ organisations, one by the employees’ organisations, and one by the local authorities. The districts covered will be Auckland, Paeroa, Whangarei, Hamilton, Wellington. Wanganui, Gisborne, Napier, Masterton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Greymouth Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin arid Invercargill. Mr. Webb said that experience up to the present indicated that while the schedule of reserved occupations was necessary as a policy guide, the conditions changed so rapidly that there were few, if any, occupations that could justify complete and permanent reservation. He emphasised that the Government would not seek preferential treatment for its employees. Applications are to be declined without the approval of the man-power organisation. Mr. Webb also referred to the problems associated with replacement of volunteers in various occupations. REPLACEMENT OF ESSENTIAL MEN. MR WEBB’S EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON, February 13. Continuing his statement at the recruiting conference, Hon. P. C. Webb added: “The Government fully realises the task which it was undertaken to provide a constant supply of men for the special force, in addition to the men for the Air Service and for home defence, and, at the same time, to ensure that production in the Dominion is not onlv maintained, but it also realises that we may be called upon to produce more. It is clear that extraordinary measures must be resorted to in order to fulfil these ob-| ligations; and those men in essential occupations who are offering their services to the armed forces, but who, at the moment, cannot\be replaced, are again specially appealed to by the

Government to assist in our huge task by sticking to their jobs until suitable 1 men can be transferred to take their 1 places. They can be assured that 5 their non-acceptance is purely a Jem2 porary arrangement, and that advant- ■ age will be taken of .their offer to • serve as soon as it is humanly pos- ; sible to do so. In this connection, it • may be pointed out that the postpone--1 ments are continuously under review, and that some hundreds have already been allowed to proceed to camp as the outcome. It has been decided to issue a suitable certificate of postponement to all the men who volunteer for service overseas, but whose acceptance is postponed by reason of their being engaged in essential work. It felt that such a certificate should assist in preventing embarrassment to many youner men who have offered . their services, but have not been accepted for the reason staled.” • “From a study of the enlistments ' to date.” continued Mr Webb, “it is 1

found that some thousands of the mar engaged in the primary Industrie: have volunteered, and, in accordance with a policy agreed upon, thsse wil. I be allowed to proceed overseas as thej can be spared. Obviously, therefore preparations for these replacement; must be made without delav to safeguard the production at Uie beginn ng of next season. This will, clearly, entail the transfer of men from other walks of life, and. although it will involve some sacrifice on the part of those asked to make the change, the Government feels sure that they will do it willingly, as their contributicfi to the war effort. The organisation of this system of replacement includes many, major considerations, such as the utilisation of married men, and. consequently, suitable housing must be arranged. The existing disparity in wages is also a major issue, as well as the selection and training of the personnel ava lable. The Government is extremely fortunate, however, in having at its disposal, on various War Councils, men with wide experience and knowledge, and, with their assistance and the wholehearted co-opera-tion of the manhood and womanhood of the Dominion, it has every confidence that ihe problem of replacement can be solved."

Over 33,000 N.Z. Volunteers

THIRD ECHELON NEARLY FILLED. REVIEW OF RECRUITING. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 13. Referring to the National Register, Hon. F. Jones reviewed the progress of recruiting. He said that the total registrations to date were 27,341 men. Of these, 17,701 were passed as fit, while 4201 were awaiting examination. There had been 13,759 posted to camps. , There were 2125 fit men available, he said, for the Third Echelon. It was estimated that there were 2,940 fit mn in those to be examined, giving a total of 5.065 available for the Third Echelon. Consequently only 753 men were now required to complete it. The Maori Battalion was in camp, and there had been a wonderful response for men for the’ Railway and Forestry Companies.' In addition to the men wanted for the Army, New Zealand was supplying men 'for the Air Force. Already 4,300 men had applied for positions as pilots, air gunners, and observers, and 2,000 had been interviewed, 849 of whom were passed as fit, and 251 as temporarily unfit. By the end of October, 643 would have been sent to Britain as fully-trained men, and towards the end of the year others would be sent to Canada to complete train’ng. Great Britain had also asked for men for the b T — 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 yatchsmen overseas He could not say where they would be go ng. The main work of the committees would be to find men to complete the Third Echelon, and reinforcements to make good the wasteage and casualties in the Second New Zealand Division.