MANPOWER USE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 263, 5 August 1942, Page 6

MANPOWER USE

Armed Forces And Industry PLANNING URGED Manufacturers Make Suggestions

Recommendations for a co-ordi-nated manpower policy to meet in proper balance the essential needs of the armed forces and of industry were made to the War Cabinet last week by the council of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation. The view was expressed that war demands for both manpower and supplies should come first and that a scientifically planned adjustment should be made in the supplies of civilian goods and services available. Suggestions were also made to increase the working capacity of industrial plant. These included: Extension of normal working hours where these are still being worked; additional shift work or extended overtime; extension of piecework or bonus work; greater utilization of female labour, including the immediate extension of conscription to women of 30 years; simplification of processes or products. In addition to the War Cabinet, the Minister of National Service, Mr. Broadfoot, and the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr. McLagan, were present. The federation was represented by the president, Mr. C. V. Smith, the vice-president, Mr. L. Matheson, and the treasurer and president of the four district manufacturers’ associations, Mr. J. Abel. “The occasion for the meeting,” says the federation, in a Press statement issued last night, “was the desire of the federation to point out the serious position to which it was felt industry was heading as a result of .the demands being made for increased production on the one hand and with- ' drawal of manpower for the armed forces on the other hand. In outlining the case, Mr. Smith stated that the federation felt that it was essential that some co-ordinated plan of action should be put into effect. “It was pointed out that manpower was required for: Armed Forces; New Zealand war, defence, and E.P.S. production ; Eastern Supply Group produc- , tion; British Imperial Government; and civilian goods and services. “New Zealand’s contribution of manpower had been unequalled by any other country, but it was obvious that we could no longer continue to provide additional numbers of men for the armed forces and at the same time carry out the production outlined above without a reconciliation between the two types of demand and a definite co-ordinated plan of action. “At present appeal boards and manpower committees were the arbiters and were being left to make decisions which should be made only under a direct policy laid down by Cabinet. Dislocation in Industry. “Mr. Smith said that dislocation in industry had become intensified for thef olio wing reasons:—The withdrawal originally of the best men for the Army and their replacement by less efficient men. The calling up of grade 3 men and the medical reclassification of men whose services industry expected to retain. The reversion to the age-group principle of calling up rather than by ballot based on the number of children. (Many employers trained men with large families into responsible jobs in the expectation that their services would be retained.) The fact that when men over 30 were called it was the more experienced and valuable employees that were affected. The effect on night shifts and overtime of the calls being made by Home Guard, - E.P.S., W.W.S.A., etc. The operation of the manpower officers in withdrawing labour from so-called non-essential units. Alleged Wastage. "In addition, Mr. Smith referred to the widespread comments on the wastages of manpower in the armed forces. These comments were: That men in some camps’ were not receiving full training; that men with special knowledge were not being used fully to advantage;, that men were being used on work that should be done by women; that fit men were on jobs that women or unfit men could do. A further loss in the use of manpower arose from the abuse of medical certificates of unfitness. “The federation suggested that the Government must first decide whether it was going to carry out all the demands made for war purposes or whether some of the work should be sacrificed in order to maintain civilian goods and services at their present level. The federation’s own attitude was that war demands both for manpower and supplies should come first and be properly balanced between these two objectives. If the Government agreed with this condition then obviously an adjustment had to be made in the supplies of civilian goods and services available. This could be done in two ways—either by working haphazardly as at present where the factors might be shortage of materials varying in different industries and firms, and decisions of manpower committees, and appeal boards varying in different localities, or scientifically by direct planning whereby the most efficient use of manpower could be obtained, at the same time spreading sacrifice as equitably as possible throughout the community. It was felt that the community generally was prepared to accept sacrifices provided these were equitably spread and resulted from a properly-directed war effort. Working Capacity. “The federation said that plant in Industry generally was not working at full capacity. Increased production could be achieved by (a) an extension of normal working hours where these were still being worked, (b) additional shift work or extended overtime, (c) extension of piecework or bonus work, (cl) a still greater utilization of female labour in place of male labour, and (e) simplification of processes or products. “In regard to (d) the federation realized the necessity for employing women to a much greater extent both in the armed forces and in industry. Before, however, women were taken from factories all the less essential sources should first be combed. The principles of a planned policy should apply in the case of women transferred to essential undertakings from so-called non-essential undertakings. “In order to achieve the increased utilization of female labour quickly, the federation strongly recommended that the conscripted age-group for women be raised immediately to 30 years. Principle of Substitution. “The federation also recommended that the principle of substitution should lie more widely adopted. Under this, men valuable to industry who had been trained but. were not holding important Army positions, would be returned to

industry and their places taken by men who so far had received no training, and who otherwise would be exempted on appeal. It was pointed out that today many firms who would not appeal ‘before for valuable men were ■being forced to appeal for men who in September, 1939, might have had difficulty in even securing a job.

“In conclusion, Mr. Smith referred to the very remarkable effort being made by those industries engaged in war production, but said that that effort could only be maintained and improved by the adoption of a definite policy which would co-ordinate the needs of manpower for the armed forces and industry. The lack of that policy in the past has been the major factor in bringing about the present loss-of manpower balance, but once the policy had been established and promulgated the federation was confident that the general public would accept the position and industry would 'Cooperate to ensure the policy being carried out effectively.

’‘Representations were also mnde on the question of publicity and propaganda which the federation maintained was very poor in New Zealand compared with other countries”