MAN-POWER RAIDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 3

MAN-POWER RAIDS

“GESTAPO METHODS" PROTESTS IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, Apl. 27. Political window-dressing by the Federal Minister of Labour, Mr E. J. Ward, is suspected as the motive for a series of man-power raids on Sydney’s fashionable hotels and restaurants. Nine raids have been carried out since March 25, but of 1339 persons questioned only 60 have been directed to new jobs. Critics liken the raids to Gestapo methods. Man-power officers suddenly enter an hotel or restaurant and block exits. Then patrons are questioned as to why they are not at work, and if their answers are unsatisfactory or if they are not carrying identification cards they are instructed to report to the man-power office for a further check. The majority of those questioned have been able to give satisfactory answers, many being wives of servicemen or shift workers, but they feel the indignity of being detained and interrogated. The Sydney Morning Herald says: “ The raids are, at best, so foreign to normal procedure in a free British community that there is an obligation upon the man-power authorities to show that press-gang tactics provide tlje only means of remedying deficiencies in their lists of persons liable for callup. What results are being achieved commensurate with the annoyance caused to patrons, and with the violence done to notions of personal liberty? ” Notwithstanding the criticisms, the man-power raids will continue. The Deputy-director of Man-power in New South Wales, Mr C. J. Bellemore, said that it was the Government’s wish that he should exercise all his powers under the regulations to secure the necessary man-power to help win the war. A raid on one retaurant had revealed that 42 aliens were employed there. Many womerl, found to be frequent visitors to fashionable restaurants, had previously told the man-power authorities that they could not take up war employment because of home responsibilities. “It was remarkable the number of women who were unable to attend a man-power interview because they said they had to do the washing. Yet they found time on other days to be idle in restaurants,” added Mr Bellemore. “The man-power officials’ visits have also discovered a number of absentees from war work. All visits were made during working hours. Bookmakers and their clerks, if employed on war work, should not be absent from work, even to settle bets. Those who are not employed on war work will be sent where they can spend their time more profitably.”