PLACE AFTER WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 8

PLACE AFTER WAR

ESSENTIAL WORKERS NO REHABILITATION HELP (Special) AUCKLAND, Oct 6. An important section of the community whose interests appear to have been overlooked in the spate of discussion on rehabilitation consists of the 90,000 men and women who have been directed by man-power authorities to essential industry. With no organisation to present their case, workers in these categories are beset with doubts as to their future, particularly as more men from the forces are returning to civil life, and they feel that it is time that the Government gave some indication that they have not been ignored. The Rehabilitation Act provides solely for ex-servicemen and women and does not cover men and women directed to industry. The Act was passed in 1941, before Japan had entered the war, when the problem seemed a clear-cut one of re-establish-ing men in civil life after service overseas, similar to that which existed after the last war. Matters have since been complicated,. however, by the need for putting into uniform for home defence every available man in New Zealand and directing large numbers of men and women into essential occupations to maintain production and many vital commodities.

Act Far Too Rigid There have been very few amendments to the original Act, and many feel that it is far too rigid and has not kept pace with changing circumstances. They point oUt that the need for protecting the interests of the 90,000 men and women have come under manpower directions is of sufficient importance in itself to justify this course. One of the few members of the Government to recognise publicly the need for considering essential workers has been the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr Skinner, who made a statement recently that while they were not covered by the Rehabilitation Act the general reconstruction plan would “take care of them to a certain extent.” Those who have had any connection with the Organisation of National Development feel that the entire plan is shrouded in such official secrecy that it will be a long time before these workers can expect to hear anything concrete about their future. It is pointed out in other quarters that essential workers are protected by the Occupational Re-establishment Regulations, which impose a duty on employers to reinstate their former employees in an occupation and under conditions not less favourable than formerly. Although the obligation is clear cut, its application will not be so simple. Problem of Full Employment

While employers strongly deny current suggestions that there has been any marked slackening in the labour demand, those who take the long-term viejv are seriously concerned about their ability to provide full employment for all their employees who are still in the services, let alone many of, the workers who have been directed to therp. The managing director of one large manufacturing firm stated that there were still 150 members of his firm to return, and he was genuinely worried about the problem of finding jobs for fully 60 of these, because of the shortage of raw materials. While those essential workers who are concerned about their prospects do not suggest that they should be given preference over servicemen, they consider that they are entitled to some consideration when rehabilitation is being discussed. They view with alarm the lack of definite evidence that their interests will be safeguarded in the post-war period.