DRASTIC ACTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 113, 16 May 1942, Page 4

DRASTIC ACTION

DIVERSION OF LABOUR INDUSTRIES FACED WITH ELIMINATION (P.A.) Wellington. May 15. Complete control over the labour ‘ resources of the Dominion in all | forms of industry is new exercised by the Government, by virtue of Car-reaching re ;ul -tion.s issued last i night. These regu’alions define c?r--i f ain non-essential industries and services, employment in which can be obtained only wi‘h the permission nf the National Service Department. In other word.'-, the flow of labour will bo diverted from th n se industries and services if if is required for war industry. In effect it means the possible elimination in time of a number nf ih n se industries and services. The Government has taken this action m order to prevent wastage of manpower. and lo ensure that the maximum war effort is being produced on lhe industrial front. Th n regulations define also Hie areas in whieh these new regulations are now effective. Within these areas are practically the whole of the i’lduslries and services concerned. Minister’s Explanation. The Minister of National Service (Mr. Semple) explained last night that the object of the new regulations was to make sure that the continued drafting of men into the armed forces wGv.'fi not deplete Ih<* labour supp-y in those industries which were essential to lhe continuance of the war effort. “Apart fr.om the fact that, men are continually being absorbed into the forces, wo have to face lhe necessity for supplying large numbers of extra workers to certain industries engage I in war work." said Mr. Semple. H<* emphasised that lhe application of Ihis measure would tie extended whenever it. was found necessary to cover other industries. Industries Affected. The first industries affected by the new restrictions are:— 1. The undertakings carried on in any shops within the meaning of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22, nut being restaurants, and not being shops wherein is exclusively or principally carried on any one or more of the businesses of a baker, a butcher, a chemist., a dairy-produce seller (insolar as the business consists of the house-to-house delivery of milk or cream), a fishmonger, a fruiterer, a grocer, a pork butcher, or a seller of coal, coke, or firewood. 2. The undertakings carried on in any factories within lhe meaning of the Factories Act. 1921-22. wherein is carried on (whether exclusively or not) the manufacture or partial manufacture of any one or more of the following commodities: Aerated waters, cordials, beer, biscuits, cake, pastry, confectionery, chocolate, icecream. fruit essences, fruit extracts, margarine, pickles, sauces, cosmetics, toys, fancy goods, viz. —beads, cameos, cards (playing), dress ornaments, flags (fancy), handkerchiefs (fancy), hat ornaments, serviette rings, shoe trees, other commodities of a similar nature; leather goods (other than footwear, harness, saddlery, and belting for driving machinery, jewellery, art metalware (such as firescreens, log-boxes, metal ornaments, and similar articles’, sporting requisites, furs, fur garments, other articles made from furs, picture frames, shop fillings, show cases, display models or equipment, radio receiving sets or cabinets, refrigerators (household), washing machines (household), lawn mowers, caravans, umbrellas, gloves, mittens, frock*- - , mantles, costumes, millinery. As from yesterday no employer In any of the industries so described may engage any worker without obtaining the prior consent of the local district manpower officer. In order to obtain the consent of this officer, if is necessary to complete a form of application. Right of Appeal. Should any employer feel that he has a case lor special exemption from these provisions because of the essential nature of his present output or for any special reason, he may represent his case for consideration lo the Director of National Service. Mr. Sample said that as the main labour difficulties arising out. of lhe employment of workers in non-essen-tial work were confined 1o lhe main centres, the Government had decided that the new provisions should apply only to employers located within the boundaries of lhe following:—The borough of Ashburton; the city of Auckland, the boroughs of Birkenhead. Devonport. Ellerslie. Mount A.beri. Mount Eden, New Lynn. Newmarket. Northcole. Onehunga, One Tree Hill. Otahuhu. and Takapuna, and Hr road d stricts of Mount Roskill. Mount Wellington, and Panmuie township; the borough of Carterton: the city of Christchurch, the boroughs of Lyttelton. Riccarton. and Sumner, and the counties of Halsweli, Heathcote, Paparua. Waimairi; th* I'ily of Dunedin, and fh° boroughs of Green Island, Port Chalmers. St. Kilda. nnd We-: Harbour; the boroughs of Gisborne, Hamilton and Hastings, ai d Greymouth: the city of Inv?rcargill; lhe boroughs of Kaiapo’.. Masterton. Millon. Mo.sgicl. and Napier; the city of Palmerston North: th r * boroughs of Rotorua. Stratford, and Timaru: llie [•ify of Wanganui; the cities of Wellington and Lower Hull, the boroughs Df Eastbourne and Petone. and the Johnsonville town district: lhe boroughs of Westport and Whangarei.