MANPOWER DRAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 19 October 1942, Page 4

MANPOWER DRAIN

FLEA FOR REVIEW I From Our Own I! i n . ii-.i, v Reporter i Wellington, This Day. j "I believe our manpower cannot stand the present drain. We have got to face up to the situation,” said Mr J. A. Lee | (Democratic Labour. Grey Lynn) in the House of Representatives on Saturday, when speaking in the debate on the Finance Bill. They had been told how many men were in the various forces, but they had not been told what they had got to meet in the future. They should also know what New Zealand v/ould look like when the men being called up were in the field; what industries were going to be maintained and how they were going to be maintained. While everybody was conscious of the urgency of dealing with the problem and facing up to it, they were drifting on. The Deputy-Leader of the House (Mr Sullivan) pointed out that surveys had been in progress for some time and had been considered by the War Cabinet. Mr Lee said he was delighted to hear that. Members were stumbling in the dark. He hoped that as rapidly as the | surveys were completed they would also get a statement of manpower targets and be given the opportunity of discussing the future policy of the Government on manpower in the House. He be- ; lieved Parliament was entitled to such a > discussion