MAINTAINING N.Z. PRODUCTION

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 4

MAINTAINING N.Z. PRODUCTION

Replacement Of Men

On Farms

PREPARING TRAINING CAMPS

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 13.

Some form of national planning was suggested for the replacement of men taken from farms, factories and offices in the House tonight by Mr J. Hargest (Nat., Awarua). He thought that in many instances the ranks could be refilled from men at present engaged on public works. It would be absolutely necessary to have some such system if production, both primary and secondary, were to be kept up. He congratulated the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) on what he had done already in making the camps fit for the men who had to go into training. He had been to Bumham lately and found the camp site a hive of industry. Construction work was being carried out with remarkable expedition and in a short time the men would be housed comfortably. He hoped that there would be no repetition of what had happened in 1914 when men were placed under canvas and disease made its appearance. ‘ NOT WEDDED TO JOBS “We are not wedded to any one of the public works jobs,” said the Minister. If it was necessary to stop all works in the interests of the country that would be done, but they did not want to throw men out of jobs willy nilly. Certain commitments had been made and that position had to be faced. If young men went off the farms to join New Zealand’s army other men would have to be found to take their places. If that were not done production would decrease. Referring to the training. camps that were being constructed, Mr Semple said that men were working night and day to get them completed. Men could not be sent into camps to contract disease. There had to be proper drainage and sewerage and proper water supplies. Above all the men had to be kept out of the mud. They would be sent to camp from comfortable homes and the Government would see to the best of its ability that their health was safeguarded.

“We could dump all the jobs tomorrow if necessary in the interests of the country and the Empire,” he added.

ALIENS RESIDENT IN DOMINION NEED FOR SAFEGUARD SEEN BY MR HARGEST (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 13. Remarking that he understood there were still some war regulations made 24 years ago on the Statute Book, Mr J. Hargest (Nat., Awarua) suggested during his speech in the second reading debate on the Emergency Regulations Bill in the House this afternoon that the Bill should contain some terminating date or time for the regulations. Mr Hargest also discussed the question of aliens resident in the Dominion. He said he wondered if the-authorities were satisfied that the activities of all those aliens, who were not British subjects could be adequately watched. He hoped that the Government was satisfied that all their credentials were in order and that an assurance could be given to the people of New Zealand that no sabotage was possible, or anything likely to be done that Would weaken the country’s war effort. “This is a time for absolute certainty as to the actions of this type of people whom we have brought into this country out of the goodness of our hearts,” he added.