MANPOWER QUESTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 244, 2 December 1940, Page 5

MANPOWER QUESTION

EFFECT ON PRODUCTION

That the inevitable result of the continued depletion of farm labour would be diminution of .primary production AA r as the opinion put forward in a resolution carried at a meeting . of the Waikato Primary Production Council last Aveek. Members of the council agreed that sufficient supplies of coal A\;ere necessary and that there must be enough labour to handle produce on the wharves, but the fact Avas emphasised that first of all the commodti-* ties had to be produced. Therefore, it Avas considered more consideration should be g'rren to the farm labour question, in A'iew of statements that miners and "A" grade Avaterfront Avorkers Avere not being called up for military service, It AA'as resolved to forAvard the" folloAving resolution to the National Production Council: "The inevitable result of the depletion of farm labour must be a gradual reduction in production, and steps should be taken to ensure a sufficiency of farm labour. With this knowledge this council A'iews Avith surprise and concern the statement made by the Wellington ManpoAver Committee

to the effect that certain types of workers -were considered indispensable and such occupations were closed occupations as far as military service was concerned.".