BUSINESS EXECUTIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24832, 4 February 1942, Page 6

BUSINESS EXECUTIVES

REQUIREMENTS OF THE ARMY RETENTION OF KEY MEN ADVOCATED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. The opinion that it was urgently necessary for special consideration to be given to the retention in their usual occupations of key men in the commercial community was expressed tonight by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr R. H. Nimmo, when discussing military calls on man-power. Many cases of hardship were being created, said Mr Nimmo. Executive key men controlling large businesses, which had been built up over many years and had lost man after man, were being called up regardless of the consequences. So far as he could see, very little consideration was . being given to these cases. The Associated Chambers of Commerce wrote stating that it was understood that the Industrial Emergency Council had under consideration a scheme for the best utilisation of manpower. When this was completed it was believed the position of industrial concerns would be greatly relieved. The first duty, said Mr Nimmo, was to make the maximum contribution towards saving the country and the Empire, and accept cheerfully whatever sacrifices were necessary. When Japan entered the war there was a real emergency, and no one would question the calling up of the men. He was glad to see, however, that relief was now to be provided in respect to key men in industry, and he hoped that adequate provision would be made for key men in commerce also. •' y-, 1 Mr ."N. S. Hunt suggested that information should-be sought from the authorities whether their present organisation could equip, house and train the' best part of 26,000 married njjeh. If riot, it should be urged that the" authorities should take only a batch which could be equipped, housed, arid trained and then, if there were no true state of emergency, these men could be sent back to civil life while another batch-was trained.

"Surely it is the unknown moves of the enemy, thait the authorities .have to guard against," said Captain S. Holm. Certain authorities in the Empire had been blamed for not being sufficiently prepared, but now it seemed that the chamber was going a little the other way. Mr Nimmo said his suggestion merely that; special consideration should beV given x to key men.