National Register Of Dominion Manpower

Northern Advocate, 13 February 1940, Page 6

National Register Of Dominion Manpower

Fraser Announces New State Move

[Per Press Association. Copyright J WELLINGTON, This Day. The establishment of a national register as part of a general scheme for surveying New Zealand manpower was announced by the Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) when opening the conference called to discuss and prepare the plans for a Dominion-wide recruiting drive. Mr Fraser also reaffirmed the Government's policy of the voluntary system of enlistment and’ emphasised that every endeavour should be directed towards making that effort a success. The Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) presided and with him was the Minister for Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullivan). Troops’ Safe Arrival. At the outset. Mr Fraser expressed great pleasure at the safe arrival of the New Zealand troops in Egypt. It was a matter for great gratification. he said, that the journey _ that might have been attended by the greatest possible danger had been accompiished successfully. In thanking local recruiting committees for their work since the war started, he said it could not he claimed that the country had put forward its maximum effort. A great deal of work had been done, but it was felt there was need for national co-ordination and co-operation, and that the country should be aroused to realise the position in which the British Commonwealth, indeed civilisation, found itself at the present time. No Fully Exempted Industry. Mr Fraser briefly referred to the report of the manpower committee and announced that there would be no absolutely exempted industry. Applications would be considered on their merits. In certain cases, men might have to be told that they could not get away until they could be replaced. The job of replacement would be a big one, but it was one the committee intended to undertake. Another thing was that before ' the manpower situation could he properly adjusted, there would have to be a survey of the whole available manpower of the whole population. That brought them to the question of a national register. Forms Being Printed, Before the economic life of the country. apart from the war effort, comd be thoroughly organised, facts concerning men’s occupations and capabilities had to be known. Forms relating to social security were now being printed, and information collected therein would form the basis of a national register. Concluding, Mr Fraser said the meeting was for considering the best means of fulfilling New Zealand’s pledge to the United Kingdom and the other nations of the British Commonwealth and to the Allies. Clothing, Footwear For Troops. The problem of supplying essential requirements for both troops and the civil population was outlined by Mr Sullivan. After consideration of the potentiality of New Zealand production, he said it had been decided to maintain troops overseas in clothing and footwear. This was a new departure, but was being done at the request of the War Office. Such things as drill uniforms, i braces, kit bags, etc., which were not of local material, would not be supplied. The Minister stressed that the inspection system was meticulous and the response by manufacturers for quality was such that few rejections had to be made. He also stressed the importance -of key men in industry, and said if they were not retained the Dominion’s war efforts would suffer. The need for these men was, in itself, sufficient justification for taking a national register.