Details Men Held From Military Service.

Northern Advocate, 16 March 1944, Page 3

Details Men Held From Military Service.

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON, This Day,

Details of the number of fit men whose military service was held up as at the end of December last on the grounds of public interest were given today by the Minister for Manpower (Hon. A. McLagan). “The numbe.r of fit single men held from military service was 10,391 while the number of married men was 28,623. making a total of 39,014,” Mr McLagan said. “It should be pointed out that all such reservations are subject to constant review.”

The Minister supplied a table giving the following particulars of men held from the service:— *

Frimary industry: Sheepfarming, 2093; dairyfarming, 5951; other farming, 4518; sawmilling and forestry, 1161; coalmining, 1647; fishing, 159; quarrying, gold, schelite, etc., 257; a total of 15,786. Cf these, 5740 are single and 10,046 married. Building constructions, repairs, etc; 1831 (105 single, 1726 married). Transport and communication: Railways, 2731; seagoing ships, 1479; roads, trams, harbours, etc., 1950; post and telegraph radio, 520; total, 6680 (1397 single, 5283 married). Secondary industries and power: Freezing, 1761; butter and cheese, 865; other foods, 757; metal industries, 2781; gas and electricity, 575; textiles, clothing, etc., 476; footwear, 358; timber, joinery, and boxes, 384; furniture, 99; lime, bricks, etc., 237; printing and publishing, 196; tanning, soap, drugs, tobacco, food containers, 647; a total of 9136 (1771 single, 7365 married).

Commerce, finance and storage - Banks, insurance, trustees, etc., 384; shops, warehouses, etc., 1373; total, 1757 (155 single and 1602 married). Administration, professional, miscellaneous: Public service, 523; local authorities, 498; education, 393; medical, dental and other professions, 437; police, 624; prisons and hospitals, 115; religious and social welfare. 751; hotels, entertainment, cleaning, etc., 63; students, 420; total, 3824 (1223 single. 2601 married).

Many Primary Producers

The Minister commented that nearly half the total reservations were in primary industries, and any sudden mass release to the forces would mean a serious dislocation of food production. In the cases of appeals for farm workers adjournments were all granted on the recommendation of primary production councils. Men under "construction” included all those engaged on hydro-electinc schemes; under railways included men in railway workshops, etc.; and the small number of single men held back under road, tram and harbour services included those on tugboats, also pilots, etc. No appeals for single men were lodged for watersiders on the ground of public interest. Single men reserved for textiles were spread over all the woollen mills which had been engaged on urgent military and civilian contracts, including men with a high degree of skill. Men reserved for furniture were working on material for the forces in the Pacific.

Those in shops included a number ol one-man shops in country towns, where withdrawal would deprive the community of. an essential service. Fit, single men held in the public service included veterinarians and other skilled workers. Students included those training for services essential to the maintenance of the health of t-Jje people.