BUILDING SHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 2

BUILDING SHIPS

LARGEE STAFFS NEEDED SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MEN "Shipbuilding is ranked as a firstclass priority job and more employees are required for it," said the district manpower officer, Mr. C. G. S. Ellis, at a sitting of the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. "i u the next few months it will be necessary to effect many transfers from other industries to shipbuilding." Mr. Ellis emphasised the reed for skilled men in shipbuilding. Many men had already been directed to the industry, but the present programme made it necessary that the staffs should be further expanded. There was a definite shortage of skilled men in soma lines. Mr. Ellis intimated that among the men required to meet the demand were carpenters, engineers, fitters and turners and those in allied trades. The present position indicated that other industries would have to provide at least some of the men. The importance of the shipbuilding industry in the national war effort was emphasised by Mr. R. C. Porter, chairman of the joint allocation committee in connection with shipbuilding. He said that larger staffs of skilled men were needed to ensure that the work should be completed expeditiously and that first-grade workmanship should be the result.