MANPOWER EXEMPTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

MANPOWER EXEMPTIONS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

(Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, 'Aug. 23 Clarifying the position regarding manpower direction the Minister of Industrial Manpower (Mr McLagan) said today that no further manpower directions would be issued to returned servicemen, and with one exception those returned men at present under direction would now he free to choose their 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 he 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 reached the stage where the position would be eased sufficiently to replace them. Wherever release could be granted immediately, however, this would be done. The Minister said that the other classes now exempt from further direction wore married women of any age, women ,3U years and over, men 45 years and over, young persons under 18, and widows of servicemen. The two latter groups wore fully exempt from direction and could leave essential employment if they chose to do so, the manpower officer’s approval being automatic. With regard to the first three groups they wore exempt from further direction, but they did not qualify, except in the case of married women faking up homo duties, for automatic consent t 0 ° terminate essential employment. Their applications would continue to be dealt with on individual merits, but releases would be granted wherever practicable. When a number of the declarations of essentiality were shortly revoked this position would no longer apply. The industries concerned and the number of persons who would be free to leave their employment wotdd progressively increase.