MANPOWER DEMANDS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1944, Page 3

MANPOWER DEMANDS

ON STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE RELAXED THIS SUMMER. WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. It would again be necessary to utilise the services of students the long summer vacation, bu \ relaxation in demands on students and teachers has become possrt e, said the Minister of Industrial Man power, Mr McLagan, tn will not be necessary for students w perform work during an exua month. University classes dul V?f 1945 would, therefore, not be disturbed, but students would be called upon to assist over peak seasonal difficulties. As was done last year. University students would have at least a two-weeks’ break between the examinations and the. commencing of work under direction, framing college students will not be lequired to commence before January 3, 1945. Students will also have a break between completing work and resuming classes. This break will be at least live days, and will be up to two weeks where work has been prolonged and arduous. Mr McLagan said it might be necessary to make some directions ’into freezing works and dairy factories above the number of students volunteering for such jobs, but fewer directions than last year should be necessary. A number of women students would also be directed to hospitals, but not for longer than one month, and women engaging in his work would be exempted from any further holiday work. Such directions made possible most well-earned relief to hospitals’ staffs who worked long hours without a break. The Minister said that applications from students wishing to enter holiday employment of their selection of .a reasonably high priority would be granted if even higher priorities did not urgently require labour. Students taking honours courses in 1945 would be permitted to undertake preparatory thesis work when the Dean of the Faculty certified this to be necessary. Similarly provision would toe made for those needed toy/perform practical work. Manpower Officers directing students to holiday work would have the co-operation of various students’ organisations. Mr McLagan said no married teachers, men or women, would be directed tins season, nor any unmarried teachers over 30 years of age. Unmarried teachers under 30 years of age would be directed where circumstances necessitated, but they could arrange their own employment in reasonably high priority industries.