MANPOWER DIRECTION

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1945, Page 5

MANPOWER DIRECTION

MINISTER EXPLAINS EXEMPTIONS P.A. WELLINGTON, August 23 Clarifying the position regaramg exemptions from manpower direction, the Minister of Industrial Manpower (Mr. McLagan) said to-day that no further manpower directions would, be issued to returned servicemen, and with one exception those returned men at present under direction would now be free to choose tneir own employment. The only exception would be members of special industry drafts, who were released from further overseas service to engage in certain high priority industries. The largest group concerned would be those serving with the Third Division, who were brought back as volunteers for essential • employment. It might be necessary to defer the release of these men until general demobilisation had reached a stage where the position would be eased sufficiently to replace them. Wherever release could be grantea immediately, however, this would be done. The Minister said' that other classes now exempt from further direction were married women of any age, women aged thirty years and over, men aged forty-five years and over, young persons under eighteen, and widows of servicemen. The two latter groups were fully exempt from direction and could’ leaye essential employment if they chose to do so, a manpower officer’s approval being automatic. With regard to the first three groups, they were exempt from further direction, but did not qualify, except in the case of married women taking up home duties, for automatic consent to terminate essential employment. Their applications would continue to be dealt with on their individual merits, but releases would’ be granted wherever practicable. When a number of declarations of essentiality were shortly revoked this position would no longer apply to the industries concerned, and the number of persons who would be free to leave their employment would progressively increase. same that allure lovely women of Paris, London and New 1 York.