THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1942. SCHEME OF EDUCATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3133, 19 June 1942, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1942. SCHEME OF EDUCATION

A comprehensive scheme of education for the armed forces has been strongly urged by the University of New Zealand, and no doubt it will not be overlooked by the authorities. It would

probably not be practicable to establish any scheme overseas until the cessation of hostilities, but if a carefully-prepared plan were ready to be put into operation then, much good would be done. The men who stand to gain most are those who enlisted before they had really established themselves in any trade or calling. It was shown again and again during the war of 1914-18 that many of the younger men gradually formed the conclusion that they would

like to take up certain work when they returned to New Zealand, and if a check could be made the number who carried out their expressed intentions would probably be surprising. These are the men who could turn to the best account any opportunity to improve their education. The period when they may be troops of occupation, or at some base awaiting transport, is the one that. would offer the greatest scope to those responsible for the scheme. The plan adopted in the last war was of assistance to many men and the experience then gained should enable any scheme for the benefit of men now under arms to be more successful. DRAINAGE OF MANPOWER Contending that the position in the primary producing industries has become “desperate” as a result of the heavy drain on manpower resources in favour of the armed forces, a Franklin county committee has; decided to collate facts for presentation to the Prime Minister. Three essentials in war, said Mr J. N. Massey, chairman of the Franklin meeting, were food, equipment and manpower. Among the three there is little difference in order of urgency. In a country particularly suited to the production of foodstuffs there should perhaps be a greater emphasis on food production than in some other countries. The problem of the authorities is to strike a balance among the several essentials so that the war effort shall be most efficiently served. Because of the many factors involved the work of the Armed Forces Appeal Board and the Manpower Committee is extraordinarily difficult and has an important influence upon the whole war effort. Whether an appeal to the Prime Minister can improve matters it is difficult to say. The boards charged with the duty of saying who among the balloted men should go into the forces and who should remain on the production front have to look at the problem from a national and sometimes an international point of view. That the manpower' position in most industries has reached a state of stringency almost simultaneously suggests that the scales have been held fairly evenly. The Government can intervene only to change the policy with regard to certain sections of industry which may be considered more necessary to wartime efficiency or in spreading or limiting the ballots. Obviously the country’s manpower cannot be drained beyond a certain stage without throwing one or more of the essentials out of balance.