INDUSTRY AND ARMY

Southland Times, Issue 25023, 8 April 1943, Page 5

INDUSTRY AND ARMY

NEW DISTRIBUTION OF MAN-POWER

Arrangements are now in train to make grade 1 men available to the Army and to release from the Army grade 2 and 3 men to take the places of these grade 1 men in industry. The grade 1 men in question are at present exempt from service with the armed forces, their appeals, oj the appeals by their employers on their behalf, having been adjourned sine die.

As a preliminary to carrying out the exchanges officials of the Southland Armed Forces Appeal Board are classifying grade 1 men who are the subject of sine die adjournments into groups according to their occupations. It is estimated that so far as the Southland board’s district is concerned fully 60 per cent, of these men are engaged in farm work. At the same time the district manpower officer is preparing lists of grade 2 and 3 men who would be available for release from the Army. When his inquiries are complete he will submit to the Appeal Board the names of grade 2 and 3 men available to take the places of grade 1 men in industry. The board will then review the adjourned appeals and decide what exchanges are to take place. If an exchange is approved by the board the fit reservist will be made available to the Army and his place in civil life will be taken by the grade 2 or 3 man selected for the purpose. NATURE OF WORK Men who are released from the Army may be called upon to do work different from that in which they were engaged when they were called up, and the work may also take them away from their homes. This exchange scheme does not include married men with children and men in the 41-45 age group who were called up in the nineteenth ballot. There were many appeals from or on behalf of men in this ballot, but these have not yet been heard and it is not yet definitely known whether they will be heard.

Employers who wish the release of grade 2 or 3 men from the Army should apply to the district man-power officer, who may, if he thinks fit, recommend their release. The final decision, however, rests with the military authorities, who have the right to retain any man who occupies what is regarded as a key position. The Army is required to realese youths aged 18 and 19, but not if they have volunteered for service in the Air Force or Navy. In that case the applications for release must be referred by the man-power officer to the Appeal Board,'which may, if it thinks fit, recommend release.. The final decision, however, rests with the Army. The same procedure applies where employers desire the release of grade 1 men from camp.