LABOUR RESOURCES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 259, 31 July 1942, Page 4

LABOUR RESOURCES

Survey Of Position In Dominion (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. “The War Administration intends to find out just where the country stands for labour resources, 'both man and woman power,” said the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr. McLagan, when asked tonight if any decisions had been made following the representations reported last, week of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association to the War Cabinet.

“We want to know definitely where we are going,” said Mr. McLagan. “We do not want to go piecemeal. We intend to proceed intelligently with the allocation of labour. A survey is being made right away.” ' The attention of the Minister was. drawn to a report by an efficiency board in the Great War on the degree of essentiality in all classes of Industrial labour, and he was asked whether the War Administration proposed compiling a similar schedule for the guidance of Industry in this war. “We intend to get the information through similar sources to enable us to decide What; we can afford to do with manpower,” replied Mr. McLagan. “Has the question of manpower industrially yet reached an acute stage?" the Minister was asked. “It is not actually acute, though we have begun to feel the effects of the Army requirements,” replied Mr. McLagan. Discussing mining production, following on the decision to release miners from the Army, the Minister said that, considering the weather interruptions and shipping difficulties, remarkably good results had been achieved.