CHANGING WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25286, 21 August 1945, Page 4

CHANGING WORK

CONTROL PROCEDURE CLARIFICATION NEEDED THE POSITION OF SOLDIERS Since the statement by the Alinister of Industrial Manpower, Air McLagan, regarding the relaxation of manpower controls, it has been apparent that a certain amount of confusion and misunderstanding has arisen in the minds of many workers who may be affected. Numbers already feel that some points could have been clarified more than they were in the Alinister s statement. . Returned servicemen, including men from the Third Division, who had been directed to work of national importance and sought a change, have quickly had it brought borne to them that tlio Minister's statement was apparently incomplete. Those who cherished the belief that they had only to ask for their release from an essential industry to have it granted automatically have received a rude awakening. v . Although the Alinister said in his public announcement that these men were no longer liable to manpower direction, he omitted to say that their applications would be granted when replacements could be found for them. It had already been decided in Wellington that, where the release of a. returned serviceman would cause embarrassment to a high priority industry, the release would be granted when it was practicable. Servicemen in Industry About 40 returned servicemen, who had been brought back from the Pacific specifically for direction to industry and who had apparently been waiting for the first opportunity to leave the wont to which they had been sent, had this position revealed to them when they wont to the manpower office yesterday. They were in freezing works, in building trades, on farms and in other undertakings which were either classified as essential or of high priority. AJI of them are not likely to secure their releases front those callings for some weeks at least. . The demobilisation of the 16th Reinforcements. which is expected to result in the return of a considerable number of men to the high priority jobs, will probably, facilitate the manpower releases of many returned servicemen who have to be retained at present. Another Mistaken Belief It has also become a popular belief among some people that the other classes of workers who were stated by the Minister to be exempt from future manpower direction were automatically released from control. That is not so. If they are already under direction, those classes of workers must apply to the manpower office for permission to terminate their employment, whether they are in essential industries or not. The same applies to undirected workers in the exempted classes if they are engaged in undertakings which have been declared essential. Judging by the applications and inquiries made by workers at the Auckland office of the National Service Department yesterday, the chief repercussions from the relaxations are likely to result from the movement of returned servicemen and men over 45 years of age. Apart from the applications made by soldiers, there were many inquiries yesterday from men over 45. Few of the latter made definite applications. Women who are not now liable to direc- ! tion are not expected to apply in great numbers. When the previous relaxations were announced there were very few applications for release, and there was no noticeable increase in the activity in the women's section of the manpower office yesterday. YOUNG PEOPLE'S POSITION SMALL MINORITY AFFECTED Although concern has been expressed in certain quarters concerning the effect of the continuation of manpower control over young people, officials at the Auckland Vocational Guidance Centre believe that only a small minority will be affected. In his statement announcing substantial relaxations of the manpower regulations, the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr McLagan, said that young persons under 18 would not have to secure the permission of their local manpower officer before taking an engagement. Discussing this statement at the weekend, the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, commented upon the position of other young people who were still subject to control. He had thought, he said, that they would be the first to he freed because they had been the worst affected. Men little older who had been overseas were exempted, but younger people who were just starting work were still subject to direction. It was a serious thing that these young people should be told what employment they were to undertake. The view of officers of the Vocational Guidance Centre yesterday was that there were few young people in the age group mentioned likely to be affected. Alost of them were young men and girls who had taken up employment before reaching the age of 18, when they were allowed a considerable measure of free choice in selecting a position. It was pointed out that control over young persons under the age of 18 was lifted on Juno .'lO, but Contrary to expectations there was no great rush to change jobs. In fact, numbers applying for a change were no greater than had been experienced previously. In the case of girls, it was stated, the majority were settled in their chosen trade long before their 18th birthday, and it was only certain professions, such as nursing, that attracted a girl fiast that age. Many youths also left school before reaching that age in order to take up a job, and even under manpower control they were given every latitude in choosing a trade. It was admitted, however, that there would be some who had voluntarily entered a trade which they had since found to be unsuitable, and in these cases they might now have difficulty in changing to nnother occupation. SHORTAGE OF POTATOES SITUATION IN HAMILTON (0.c.) _ HAMILTON, Monday Hamilton is at present experiencing a potato famine. For the past fortnight wholesale dealers have had no potatoes for sale and notice has been received that the long-awaited supply from Australia will not now arrive before September 14. A small quantity is expected from the' South Island on Wednesday, but this will last for only a day or two. BEHAVIOUR IN STREETS COMMENTS IN WELLINGTON (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Monday "The exhibition in tho streets by young people celebrating the coming of peace was disgraceful," said All* Martin Luckie at a meeting of tho Wellington Fire Board. "If children are going to be brought up the way they are in New Zealand today 1 dpn't know what we are going to do about it," said Air G. S. Amos. Air L. Glover had suggested that the board urge the City Council to take steps to prevent bottle-smashing on streets. The practice was dangerous, especially to fire engines which might bo travelling at a high speed. The chairman, Air S. S. Dean, said that the board' had given its support to measures to prevent vandalism, and that should be sufficient. FALL FROM A HORSE When ho fell from his horse which bolted in Princess Street, Otahnhu, shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a youth. John Wilkinson, aged 16, of Hillside Road, Mount Wellington, suffered lacerations and concussion. He was taken to the Greenlane'Hospital in a St. John ambulance, his condition last night being fairly serious.