ARMY STRENGTH IN DOMINION

Southland Times, Issue 24986, 24 February 1943, Page 4

ARMY STRENGTH IN DOMINION

Plea For Reduction (Special) DUNEDIN, February 26. “The man-power problem is becoming increasingly difficult as more and more demands are being made for production,” the president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, Mr C. V. Smith, said today. Man-power, he added, would be the main item for discussion at the meeting of the Council of Manufacturers in Wellington next week. The difficulties would be more easily borne by manufacturers and farmers if it were not for the knowledge that there were thousands of men in the Army in New Zealand who were simply wasting their time. Apart from the evidence available almost everywhere, the fact that under the new leave regulations the Army could spare 12| per cent, of its strength on holiday leave alone all the time was in itself an acknowledgement that a large percentage of Grade II and Grade 111 men could be released permanently. While the effect of these wasted months was bad enough in the case of adults, he stated, the federation felt that New Zealand was only storing up trouble for itself if it kept boys under 20 in camp under the present conditions. The federation realized that Grade I men and a certain proportion of Grade II men were required for overseas and that youths were required for the Air Force, he said, but that still left thousands of men in camp on guard duties and on anti-aircraft batteries whose work could be taken over by the Home Guard. Representations along these lines had been made to the Prime Minister, who was entirely sympathetic, the federation felt that as any Government was to a large extent guided by its military advisers nothing short of a strong public opinion would bring about the release of men and a reduction of establishments. “As laymen,’ Mr Smith concluded, “we are not supposed to know anything about military strategy, but one is tempted to guess at the strategy behind the apparent reluctance to reduce establishments.”

CALLING UP OF YOUTHS

DEFERRED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, February 23. Advice has been received by the chairman of the Otago Education Board, Mr James Wallace, from the Minister of Defence that the Army has deferred the calling up of further youths. The Minister added that the Government had under consideration proposals to release as many young soldiers as possible. Mr Wallace said he hoped the release of youths in camp would be hastened, as among them were 250 students from the four training colleges.