MANPOWER NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24269, 9 May 1942, Page 6

MANPOWER NEEDS

AKMY AND INDUSTRY FINANCING THE WAR AID FOR ESSENTIAL WORKS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Friday The hope that the report on the manpower position would be presented to-morrow was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Fraser said the manpower problem reflected the acuteness of the war situation. The problem confronting the War Cabinet was one of maintaining the efficiency of the war and allied industries and of providing men for the defence of the country. The country could not have manpower at the ordinary scale for industry and sufficient men for the armed forces at the same time. He thought there would be unanimity that if the Dominion was to defend itself it must be prepared to give the last drop of blood of all who could serve. At the same time, the efficiency of industry necessary to the war effort must be Maintained. Mr. Fraser said that every new weapon that came into the country meant more men to use it. Firm Control of Money Speaking of the financing of the war, the Prime Minister said the banks had been warned to keep a firm control over the issue of money. If it was not controlled it meant inflation, and that must be resisted. Concerning industry, he said that the present was no time for experimental business enterprise, but it was a national job to expand the war industries and Government assistance was forthcoming where essential industries needed financial aid. Non-essential industries were a handicap to the war effort. Elaborating the point concerning financial aid to war industry, the Prime Minister explained that it was not a question of the Government stepping in and running assisted industries that it did not know anything about. Its duty was to help the people iyho were running the businesses and assist them with new machinery and in other necessary ways. Future Generations Mr. Fraser said he did not think the country's resources were being taxed to the limit and the Government's policy was to get its war finance without crippling industry. "The aim is to pay for the war as we go as far as possible, but we cannot do it all the way," he said. "I am not going to worry if future generations have to pay something of the cost of what we are fighting for, because we are fighting for the security of future generations as well as of our own.