THE USE OF MAN-POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25015, 8 September 1942, Page 2

THE USE OF MAN-POWER

It seems unavoidable that the steps which the Government has in contemplation for making the most effective use of the man-power of the Dominion must lead to a good deal of dislocation of industry. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Sullivan, has said that they will involve further sacrifice and greater effort on the part of everyone. This may be a trifle exaggerative, but it should be perfectly clear that, broadly, the effect of the Government's plan will be felt in one way or another throughout the entire community. All industry must be made subservient to the military needs of the country. "Many industries and services which are essential in themselves can," Mr Sullivan asserts, "be considerably pruned without being by any means eliminated, while many others are able to yield still further men to the forces, provided these men are replaced by women. It is inevitable that a total war effort should involve the steady absorption of resources such as these into the immediate sphere of the essential industries or the armed forces." Jt will be noticed that this statement by the Acting Primp Minister contains an important reservation. It is contingent upon woman-power being available to replace them that men can be released from essential industries to take their places in the armed forces. There should be no hesitation on the part of women in undertaking the performance of industrial work that is suited to their ability and temperament if, by their so doing, they contribute to the prosecution of the total war effort. In any history of the war, written from the point 1 of view of the United Nations, the j warmest recognition must be made of the noble service which is being rendered by the women of Great Britain. It constitutes a shining example to the women of the rest of the Empire. What they are capable of doing the women of New Zealand are capable of doing. The same eagerness as has been exhibited at Home to perform a service that is either directly or indirectly related to the war has been I shown by large numbers of women in New Zealand. They will accept any service to which they may be directed as long as the performance of it is within their physical capacity and as long as they are temperamentally qualified to undertake it. The Government does not merely contemplate an extension of the spheres within which women may be employed. It aims also at " bringing into useful employment," as Mr Sullivan puts it, "some older people who in normal times would no longer be at work, but are still fit for service."" Since we are engaged in what is called total war, these older people should feel it a privilege to do what they can in the service of the Dominion by taking the place of men of military age who are required in the armed forces. But the fact is not to be ignored that there are many men whose duties in their civil occupations may be more valuable than anv that they can render as soldiers. The truth of this has been acknowledged in the discharge of men from the forces in order that they may return to the places held by them in civil life. The survey of the man-power and supply requirements of the armed forces, primary and secondary industries, and essen-

tial civil needs which, Mr Sullivan says, is now being made and which should have been made long ago, should simplify the approach by the Government to the pi-oblem that must be encountered by it in its desire to establish a balance that will be as true as possible between the requh*ements of the armed forces and those of essential industry in the Dominion.