H.—llA

SECTION IX.—CONTROL OF DEPARTURES FROM NEW ZEALAND 223. The mobilization of man-power within a country is, of course, the most important aspect of war organization, but the safeguarding of the man-power reserve by preventing the departure from a country of persons liable for military or individual service is an important corollary. 224. On the outbreak of war the Overseas Passengers Emergency Regulations were gazetted. Under these regulations, which are administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, no person of the age of sixteen years or over may, with certain exceptions, leave New Zealand for any other country unless in possession of a written permit issued by the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. 225.. Broad principles for determining, from the man-power aspect, the conditions under which applications for exit permits were to be approved were defined by War Cabinet early in the war. By arrangement with the Department of Internal Affairs, all applications for exit permits by persons who have military or industrial man-power obligations are referred to the National Service Department for recommendation, and no permit is granted in such cases without the approval of the Director of National Service. The recommendation of the Department is framed after consideration of the probable extent, if any, of the applicant's military and industrial obligations and the degree of importance attaching to the work which the applicant would be engaged in were the exit permit to be granted. The degree of hardship occasioned the applicant or other persons in the event of refusal of the permit is also weighed. 226. It has been the policy that the reasons advanced in support of any application for a permit must be of a strong and compelling nature. Shortage of transport facilities and rationing difficulties in the proposed country of destination are matters for the consideration of the Department of Internal Affairs, but they are borne in mind by the National Service Department when applications are under consideration from the man-power angle. 227. The present policy is to ease the burden of restriction as soon as possible and to withhhold approval only when the application would or might involve a loss of man-power which may be required for military service or is urgently required for essential or other important work. As a matter of Government policy, the applications of certain classes of applicants arc now approved as of right, but even in these cases the Department requires to be satisfied that the applicant is within the class in question and that there is no good reason for withholding approval in the public interest. Examples of favoured classes for exit permits are returned servicemen of this war who have completed their military obligations, particularly those who are offered a means of rehabilitation overseas ; wives and fiancees of Allied servicemen where the servicemen concerned have been repatriated to their normal place of residence ; evacuees from war zones who have enjoyed temporary asylum in New Zealand ; war widows desirous of making their home with relations abroad ; and persons not normally resident in New Zealand but who have been stranded in New Zealand owing to war conditions and who, in the case of males, have completed their military obligations, if any. PART lII.—INDUSTRIAL MOBILIZATION SECTION I.—CHANGES IN THE TOTAL LABOUR FORCE (i) The Pre-war Labour Force 228. The total labour force of New Zealand at the outbreak of war has been estimated at approximately 700,000. Since the total population at the same date was 1,630,000, something less than one-half of the population was engaged in gainful employment. Of the total of 700,000 workers, 520,000 were estimated to be males—thus approximately 180,000 women wore employed in industry at the outbreak of war. (ii) Wartime Changes in Total Labour Force 229. By the end of 1943 the total labour force was estimated to have contracted to 634,000 notwithstanding an estimated industrial inflow of a further 48,000 women, but by the end of 1944 the aggregate figure had increased to the estimated total of 655,000. This recovery was explained by the permanent or temporary release of servicemen from the Forces. 230. Estimated movements in the total labour force during the war are shown in the following table :—

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Labour Force. End of 1939. End of 1943. End of 1944. Males .. .. .. .. 520,000 406,000 435,000 Females.. .. .. .. 180,000 228,000 220,000 Total .. .. .. 700,000 634,000 655,000