RETURNED MEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23287, 24 August 1945, Page 4

RETURNED MEN

No Further Manpower Directions Other Exemptions (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. Clarifying the position regarding exemptions from manpower direction, the Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon. A. McLagan, M.L.C.) said to-day that no further manpower directions would be issued to returned servicemen, and with one exception those returned men at present under direction would now be free to choose their own employment. The only exception would be members of the special industry drafts who were released from further overseas service to engage in certain high priority industries. The largest group concerned would be those serving with the Third Division who were brought back as volunteers for essential employment. It might be necessary to defer the release of these men until the general demobilisation had reached the stage where the position would be eased sufficiently to replace them. Wherever release could be granted immediately this would be done.

The Minister said the other classes now exempt from further direction were married women of any age, women aged 30 and over, men aged 45 and over, young persons under 18, and widows of servicemen. The two lastmentioned groups were fully exempt from direction and could leave essential employment if they chose to do so, the manpower officer’s approval being automatic. With regard to the first three groups they were exempt from further direction, but did not qualify except in the case of married women taking up home duties for automatic consent to terminate essential employment. Their applications would continue to be dealt with on their individual merits, but releases would be granted wherever practicable. When a number of declarations of essentiality were revoked in the near future this position would not longer apply to the industries concerned, and the number of persons who would be free to leave their employment would progressively increase.