GREATER EFFORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 8

GREATER EFFORT

INDUSTRIAL SWITCH

MR. MENZIES' PROMISE

LEAST POSSIBLE HARDSHIP CANUKKUA. June 10 The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, announced that the methods whereby industry would be switched from civil to war production would be .so designed as to cause the least possible hardship to employees. lie said the Government had no intention ot forcing the displacement of great bodies of men for whom work, would not. be. available in the war industries. A hill, of which the Attorney-Gen-era I, Mr. Hughes, enve notice in the House of I'cprosenfntives yesterday, will give effect to the decisions announced iu Mr. Menzies' broadcast tor the prevention of stoppages iu war industry. Thorny Point of Penalties As discussions in the House proceeded last night, it seemed plain that strike penal ties to be provided by the hill might cause the first, real Parliamentary crisis since the Budget debate ot last year. Doubts were expressed in some quarters whether the Government would let tlh' debate on the bill go fo the point where it might be faced with a division in which it would be dependent lor survival on the vote ot the Independent member, Mr. Wilson, who holds the balance of power in the House. Mr. Wilson said last night that the content of Mr. Memoes' broadcast was ver\ satisfactory to liiiu, hut he would need to see action taken to implement what Mr. Menzies had undertaken hefore he could comment Inrther. The Minister ol Labour. Mr. Holt, said there was now no shortage ot women tor deletice works, but many factories were being built, and later women workers would be needed. Ihe first responsibility was to absorb male unemployed and those who would be displaced from industrv as the rseiili of rationing and curtailment ol luxury product ion Training of Operatives It. was thought that some women who normally would not be prepared to undertake factory work would do so now. so long as the work was directly associated with the war. The'drain on men for enlistments would also create opportunities for women, but tno.se opportunities were tor the present at least partly offset by the men who were coming into the labour market from other industries. "It is diflieult at this stage.' Mr. Holt added, "to determine the- effect of Government policy in restricting industries, and the further cuts in petrol rations probably will bring into the labour market many people einploved in the motor and associated industries. These people can be used in munitions production, and the training of them does not present a serious problem, because in many branches ol our war production little skill is required.' '

VIEWS OF LABOUR

MR. MENZIES' SPEECH

SUGGESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT CANBERRA, June 10 The official views of the Federal Labour Party on the plans for an unlimited war effort were announced in the House of Representatives by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. .). Curtin. He expressed agreement with the decisions to further ration petrol, to extend the Trade Union Advisory panel, and to appoint a Minister of Supply and an assistant-Minister to control air-

raft production, but criticised that art of Mr Menzies' speech dealing itli labour.

The existing industrial machinery should have been elaborated before the Government- decided to prohibit strikes, said Mr. Ciirtiu. If the Government's powers were used capriciously the position would become worse, The Government should collaborate with Labour rather than try to put Labour into a straight-jacket. Mr. Curt in asked the Government to establish immediately a standing committee of both Houses of Parliament to report constantly upon social security. The workers and the people generally were entitled to some instalments of the new social order as opportunity offered.

LABOUR ADVISER

VISIT 5 TO MALAYA LONDON, Jtino 10 The Colonial Under-Secretary, Mr. George Hall, revealed in Parliamentary answers that Major Orde Browne, chief Labour adviser to the Colonial Office, was proceeding to Malaya on the completion of his present visit to Mauritius In Malaya he will advise the authorities 011 industrial questions