THE CASE FOR THE ESSENTIAL WORKER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 264, 6 August 1942, Page 4

THE CASE FOR THE ESSENTIAL WORKER

When the question of exempting essential workers from military service was first discussed it was suggested in these columns that it might be desirable to issue to these men, who were in the great majority of cases ready and anxious to go into camp, some badge that would indicate clearly their particular position. The need seems to be very much greater today when farmers and faim woikers have been instructed to leave camp and return to their former occupations. They could not, in the circumstances, be given any option, for it had been laid down, as a matter of policy, that their labour should be made available for' the maintenance of primary production. Others who had not entered any camp were equally willing to go but had been prevented by the exercise of the selective powers conferred on manpower bodies for that purpose. . . As the Dominion moves toward the state of organization where manpower is more completely under direction there must be more men, and more fit for military service, who will be virtually under orders to serve on the production front, and if only to make their position clear, to avoid any misunderstanding, they should be issued with some official badge. The chairman of the Wellington District Council of Primary Production stated the position bluntly, at the inaugural meeting, when he said that he knew of cases o.t farmers sons who were now doing “a better job of work by staying on the farms but they did not want to be branded as cowards.” Such a position would naturally be abhorrent to all virile young men, but they have also a strong dislike of being placed in a position where they feel they have to explain their inability to go to, or the reasons for their return from, some camp. . A badge, issued only to those entitled to wear it, would obviate the need for any explanation. It would indicate that the jveaier had been classified as an essential worker, and his status in town or district would not be questioned. There would be no occasion for anyone to “wonder why” so-and-so had not been called up, foi it would be clear that, in the considered opinion of those whose duty it was to decide the matter, that man could render the most valuable service in some other direction. The issuing of such a badge would, of course, restrict the freedom of the wearer to change his employment. It would be available only so long as he remained in the employ deemed essential, but as the control and direction of labour are extended that matter probably would create no difficulty. The thing is to provide some suitable means whereby those ordered to lemain in or return to civil employment—for that is what it amounts t 0 —will have their position made clear.