GRAVE POSITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 21, 23 December 1942, Page 5

GRAVE POSITION

DOMINION’S MANPOWER

LULL ECONOMY URGED (Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 22, Arising out of conferences among representatives of the Auckland Trades’ Council, tlio 1 ederation of Labour, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Employers’ Association, and the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, a statement of agreed opinions regarding the utilisation of manpower and womanpower lias been placed in the hands of the Prime Minister. The submis-* sions were unanimously endorsed by the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union.

“The development of power in the South Pacific by the United States has both relieved the Dominion from the immediate menace of attack and created new problems,” the statement sets out. “It therefore appears that the Dominion must move from tile organisation of maximum concentration for military defence dictated by Japanese aggression to the maximum utilisation of manpower for production to supply American requirements.

“Steps should be taken to ensure the maximum economy in the use of manpower by the Armed Services in New Zealand and the South Pacific. The conference regards with grave misgivings the proposal that New Zealand should undertake to maintain a large force on active service in the Pacific.”

In respect of homo defence and training for overseas service, the conference stated it was convinced that substantial economy of manpower could be effected. It was agreed that greater use could be made of womanpower, but that the Armed Forces should be impressed with the necessity of utilising the services of women more economically.

The conference agreed that the setting up of manpower utilisation councils and committees should ho extended to all industries. “We would further suggest,” the submissions continue, “the setting up of production committees in all industries, thereby ensuring a greater united effort on tlio homo front.” The statement concludes that the present manpower situation is so grave that immediate action should be taken to formulate a policy commensurate with the probable duration of the war and the resources of the Dominion.