MANPOWER CONTROL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23258, 20 July 1945, Page 6

MANPOWER CONTROL

Gradual Relaxation “It might be pertinent to ask how long the Manpower Regulations will continue in force,” said the District Manpower Officer (Mr E. R. Winkel) during an address to the South Canterbury Regional Planning Council yesterday. “The Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon. A. McLagan) has already announced that the measures of control will be relaxed as soon as practicable,” Mr Winkel continued. “Consequent upon the cessation -of hostilities in Europe, some measure of relaxation has already been made. Young people under 18 are allowed to choose their own employment, while the wives of returned servicemen, and married women of the age of 40 years are given automatic conkent to leave essential employment where they desire to do in order to take un domestic duties. This freedom, is, however, subject to formal aoplication and aonroval by manpower officers, so that the Department may be kept in touch with emnloyment trends.

“In addition to these measures of relaxation, many firms previously declared essential are being consulted with a view to removing’ the declaration of essentiality. Early indications locally are that most of these firms desire the restriction to continue, as they realise the difficulties of retaining a labour force sufficient for their needs under present-day conditions. It is. however, the Government’s desire that relaxation be extended to • the maximum extent possible. On the other hand, it should be appreciated that while the military situation is very satisfactory, normal conditions cannot be expected to follow automatically upon the final defeat of Japan, with which country incidentally we are still at war. “At the present time there are some 90,000 men in the New Zealand Forces at home and abroad. This represents a depletion of industrial manpower, and a liability upon industry to feed, clothe, equip them, and provide them with comforts. The number in the Forces also indicates the extent to which the clothing and allied industries will be called upon to m°et the demands of these men for civilian wear upon the’’’ return. “We are still committed to food snnnlies for Forces in Pacific." Mr Winkel concluded, “while the food situation in Brha’n and Europe is such that the United Kingdom has asked ment. of all things, of horseflesh for human consumption. It will probably I he some years before food sunnlies for 1 Euronc revert tn normal. A maior j housing construction and t imber sunnly I nregramm? is an irnmerjinte necessity. ! anj jp the lieh’ of these real needs. su r, 2cst.ion that e''"> Hit ions in N°w I Penland are annrr'-’nbincr normality j f ails to fu“ o r°°i facts.” !