MAN POWER THE CENTRAL PROBLEM

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 14024, 16 January 1918, Page 5

MAN POWER THE CENTRAL PROBLEM

•X' ' i HEAVIEST BURDEN FALLS ON BRITISH PEOPLE. ' . i':,- . STATEMENT BY BRITAIN'S DIRECTOR OR. NATIONAL SERVICE. (A'lstralian and New Zealand Cable Association.) I Received January 15, at 11.45 p.m. I i LONDOIV, January 14. . Sir Auckland Geddes, Director of National Service/ introdueiiig the Man Power Bill said that man' powetf was the central war problem. The most urgent need at present was men for the army, The position of Britain's Allies laid the heaviest' burden on Britain until . America was ready. The Allies were still substantially '' superior, to the enemy.as regards men, despite Russia arid Rumania, i but Russia releases 1,600,000 of I ] »e t|neiny. for the I . West. The Empire had hitherto raised 7,500,00(1tr00p5. H0 | announced that the government had clecid : e| ! 'fpr the present, that the military age slioliltt"be neither lowered nor raised-. Com/ j pulsion would not be introduced in .Ireland, but they would not he.-itnte to adopt any or all of those measures if the military needs i were not met otherwise, I Received January 1(5, at 112.45 p.m. LONbON, January 15., . Sir Auckland Geddes stated that the Empire had contributed in men the following proportion; England ' .4,530,000 Soot land ~ .. \ 620,00.0 I' Wales .. ... 1230,000. Ireland ; 17(],P • Dominions and colonies .... .. Continuing, Sir Auckland Geddes said that the Army needed another *1*20,000 to 450,000 men. It. was untrue that the British Army in the field was dwindling, It was still stronger than ever. But ia was necessary to look ahead and provide for rear-' ward services. The Minister pointed out that the problem could not be solved dramatically until the Director-General withdrew ' the occupational exemptions.' Apart.from the Army's needs the, Labour Employing Departments required a further 430,000 men 1 and 119,000 women. Already 815,000 women munition workers were employed. |