WARTIME INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 March 1944, Page 2

WARTIME INDUSTRY

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED APPLICATION of efficiency STANDARD (From our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, March 9. Difficulties experienced by manure- j luring concerns owing to the shorffge of labour were recounted by Mr C. M. Bowden (National, Wellington West) in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. It was inevitable with 150,000 persons taken out of industry for the war effort that there should be problems, he said. What was needed was concentration of available workers. In some businesses fixed charges became disproportionate to turnovers on account of restricted staffs. The biscuit industry had done a magnificent job by stepping up production from 9000 to 21,000 tons. Factories were unable to fulfil orders because of the lack of a few girls. Biscuits were needed in India, Italy and the Pacific war theatres. Then again the boot and shoe industry was short of operatives. The clothing factories had done good work making working shirts, children’s clothing and the like but there were several less essential industries carrying on happily. Labour should be directed to the most essential channels. More men and women were needed in the clothing industry or in the alternative there should be increased hours. The Government was now endeavouring to arrange for extended hours but in Christchurch the clothing workers had refused to work a 43-hour week although overtime was to be paid. Boot operators in Auckland had decid ; ed on similar action. He hoped the efforts of the Government would be successful in straightening out these difficulties. MANPOWER COMB OUT Mr Bowden said there should be a drastic review of men held by the Army. Although many men had been released many remained who were not doing a worth-while job and had time on their hands. There should also be a substantial release of women from the uniformed services He believed there were redundant staffs in many Government offices. Such staffs were out of proportion to the work of production. Referring to recent troubles on the wharves, in the freezing industry and in the coal mines, Mr Bowden said coal must be obtained if factories and transport were to be continued. There was no reserve for domestic use for the coming winter. Where privileges were enjoyed by any section of the community and that section proved unworthy of them and refused to settle their troubles by constitutional methods those privileges should be taken away. The test of an outside tribunal might be applied or union membership denied. A proper standard of efficiency should be applied in industries where privileges had been abused. He suggested that an efficiency standard should be applied to the waterside workers. LEND-LEASE Touching on lend-lease arrangements Mr Bowden said the Government had given no clear account of operations under the scheme. Goods came from America at rates ruling there while New Zealand received prices obtaining here at the outbreak of war. He had been informed that America was purchasing New Zealand meat at prices lower than those paid by Britain. He had also been that a demand was being made for lend-lease goods obtained by New Zealand, actual dollars being asked for certain merchandise imported. The scheme should be placed on a proper basis but the maintenance of good relations should not be jeopardised. “TOO VAGUE” (From our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, March 9. The belief that the lend-lease arrangement was not sufficiently definite was expressed by Mr T. Clifton Webb (National, Kaipara) in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives. It was too vague, he said, and too much had been left to be settled afterwards. He was anxious not so much to know what New Zealand’s position with the United States was, although that was important enough, but to make every effort now to remove all possibility of misunderstanding later on with that great sister nation. He regarded Anglo-American co-operation as of tremendous importance and an indispensable condition of world peace.