THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1942 MANPOWER PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24423, 5 November 1942, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1942 MANPOWER PROBLEMS

Manpower problems have again been raised for public discussion by the statements of the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Sullivan, and the president of the Manufacturers' Federation. Mr. C. V. Smith. Without any such prompting, however, the subject is constantly being turned over in the mind and conversation of everyone. None can remain indifferent where all are affected. In many families, factories, offices and farms, the ballot to be gazetted next Wednesday offers an extra reminder —the ballot calling up for military service some 21, OIK) married men aged 33, 39 and 40. As people ponder on the probable effect of this ballot, as well as of those past and those to come, they cannot help questioning whether a proper proportion is being kept between the armed forces and the civil economy that must support them. Mr. Sullivan answers by awarding the forces the first priority. Nevertheless he would probably agree that the forces would be impotent without a firm and sufficient base. A strong foundation must be provided on which to erect the military superstructure. He and the Government should consider whether, by continuing to take away from the foundation in order to add to the superstructure, they may not he weakening both. If such is indeed. the case, the effect would be to prejudice national security, which it is the prime object of the Government's effort to sustain. Mr. Smith estimates that 160,000 men have already entered the armed forces, a higher proportion than in any other Allied country. This is a proud record, but may not indicate an efficient- distribution of manpower for obtaining the maximum war potential. Supposing the ballots for all the 'classes not yet called, in addition to volunteers, raise the total in the three fighting services to 150.000. This total would be drawn from a pool of manpower aged between IS and 60 that numbers about 450,000. Two out of every five of the country's manhood are thus deducted from New Zealand's labour force. They are the men in their prime, the most able-bodied. Of those left to man the country's industries, all except essential workers are either aged over 45 or are not- fit for military service. These, with such help as can be given by the aged and the women the latter contribution being very considerable, but not unlimited—these must keep the country going and supply their brothers in the forces. In addition, they are committed to the supply of other forces, here and overseas. Most military calculations provide for several men working in industry to maintain one man in the forces. Here the Government is moving toward a proportion of three to two, to say nothing of outside commitments on industry. It may be possible to keep such a proportion for a short spurt. Maintenance can be neglected, capital and land allowed to depreciate. But all the signs point to a long war, calling for staying-power. Productive power must not be allowed to decline further, a prescription that demands a higher allocation of manpower.

How it is to be filled cannot be 'determined unless the largest poo! |of able-bodied men is included in | the calculation. In fact, military j commitments should be reviewed ! and adjusted in accordance with I supply necessities. One method ; would be to reinforce industry from ; the Army by seasonal drafts. The ; military authorities may raise objections on the score of interrupted [training, lost efficiency, and lack of : instant readiness. Yet some such scheme might serve real needs. For three years past the German High Command has each winter sent soldiers from the front to the factories and farms. It has accepted this risk m face of long and vulnerable frontiers. It has recognised that the army in the field depends on the proper manning of the home front. How far such seasonal service could be made to ease the Dominion's problems should be examined more thoroughly than it has been so far. But the review should be more searching than that implies. The Government should ask how many fully trained, fully equipped, and completely battlevrorthy formations it commands in return for the mobilisation of 160.000 men. Is it obtaining military value and security value for this large expenditure of manpower? If the questions are pressed honestly and unsparingly, and the answers given truly, the Government may find that a change in defence policy is indicated. Numbers do not give Ftriking power. President Roosevelt has declared the United States must put quality before quantity. The same principle could be applied with advantage to New Zealand's defence forces, giving an access of security and at the same time needed reinforcement to the industrial front.