REPLACING MEN IN INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 5

REPLACING MEN IN INDUSTRY

[ A DIFFICULT PROBLEM MINISTER'S STATEMENT — f Ter Pi.»M Association.) WELLINGTON, April 11. | Replacement of men in production 'presented difficulties, but with greater co-operation these could be overcome, |said the Minister of Manpower, Hon. P. C. Webb, to to-day’s meeting of the I National Recruiting Council. i Older men and women had to be concentrated on. The great bulk of ' young women were employed and [young men were enlisting or were in 1 work. The greater proportion of the i 10.000 men engaged on what corresponded to Scheme 13 work were between 45 and 60. Most of them were I between 50 and 60. Many were not i fit. to do really hard work. Most [farmers would not employ inexperienced labour. j A subsidy of fl a week for six ■ months was offered as inducement i.» [employ Inexperienced men. In the I firs? year 600 farmers took advantage of the offer. Last year a very few. There were serious obstacles regard- ; Ing accommodation in the country ann [this factor impaired the placing of ' labour. A vigorous campaign of buildI Ing wharcs and homes had boen dlsI cussed to meet the need. Youths could 'not be got from the cities for farms because of the availability of trade- ; teaching occupations near their homes, I out there were hundreds of older men 'and women who could be got if acIcommodation was provided for them; something along married-couple lines.