USE OF MANPOWER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 6

USE OF MANPOWER

Needs Of Armed Forces And Industry

SURVEY OF RESOURCES Steps being taken to make the most effective use of the country’s manpower resources were outlined yesterday by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan. He said that War Cabinet had given instructions for an up-to-date survey of the manpower and supply requirements of the armed forces, primary and secondary industries, and essential civil needs over a fairly long period in the future. Ihe survey had been in hand for some time, and would be completed soon.

Mr. Sullivan, who said that the survey would show what the total wai effort could be and what adjustments were necessary to achieve it, mentioned that it was known already that it would involve further sacrifice and greater effort on the part of ex erj one. Special attention was being given tc the problem by .the Ministers most affected—the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and the Minister for Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr. Coates, ou the military side; and the Minister of National Service, Mr. Broadfoot, the Minister of Manpower, Mr. McLagan, the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes, Mr. Polson, and himself, on the production S 1 There would be no restrictions or cuts that could reasonably be avoided. On the other hand, where a diversion of manpower, raw materials, or machinery from less essential production would strengthen the war effort, it wbuld be done. Every man must be just where his country needed him most and giving his best. Balloting of Men.

"It should be clear from powers taken up to the present and actual steps implemented so far that Wa Cabinet had some considerable time ago foreseen the need 1 for organizing a total war effort and had already embarked on a programme which would lead progressively toward the realization of this objective,” said Mr. Sumvan. Japan’s entry into the war had the effect of accelerating this programme. Many classes of men vere balloted long 'before they would otherwise have been, and this process can be expected to continue till all men up to the age of 45 have been called up, for the purpose of definitely ascertaining what number of fit men are available, capable of bearing arms if necessary. It does not follow that these men will be immediately posted to the Army. That question is 'being examined in the light of the whole manpower position. U, x , “At the same time, in order to safeguard essential industry from the effects of this extensive balloting of men, War Cabinet has maintained a continuous watch over the position as a whole and numerous policy directions have passed out to appeal tribunals. In determining which individual men should 1 be released io the forces full regard has been had to the necessity for maintaining and in some cases expanding essential industries and services.” Essential Workers. Mr. Sullivan said that up to the present more than 6000 -workers had 'been diverted into essential work and more than 2500 others had been prevented from leaving essential work who would otherwise have changed their employment. These figures, however, did not give the complete picture as there were many thousands of others who moved into essential work in anticipation of a direction to do so or who refrained from leaving essential work because they realized that it -would not be in the interests of the country. These figures were building up continuously and their cumulative effect would be increasing all the time. “The stage, has been reached when these will be supplemented 1 by still wider readjustments in order to release men to the forces without at the same time interfering with the maintenance of essential services or preventing industrial development in order to meet still, heavier calls for production,” said Mr. Sullivan. “It should be mentioned that these calls include not merely the maintenance of supplies to our own forces and other Allied troops in the Pacific area, but also our commitments to the United’ Kingdom and the Middle East There, is only one general reservoir of labour from which these greater needs can be. met, that is the section of the population which is not already serving full -time in the forces or engaged in ehsential industries. This section includes all those people who are not now employed in any form of work, as well as a great number who are doing tasks which can be eliminated or restricted for the duration of the war. Employment of Women. "Many industries and services'which are essential in themselves can be considerably ' pruned without being by any means eliminated, while many others arc able to yield still further men to the forces, provided these men are replaced by women. It is inevitable that a total war effort should involve the steady absorption of resources such as these into the immediate sphere of the essential industries or the armed forces.

“Production requirements in all phases of industry are being scrutinized with a view to the formulation of priorities and elimination of non-essen-tials, whether in the form of Indus-' trial production or services, such as competitive commerce and finance. Measures designed to prevent the outflow of workers from essential work and their movement into non-essential work must be stiffened up and still further extended. The great reservoir of womanpower is being brought progressively into essential industry.' Some older people who in normal times would no longer be at work, but who are still tit for service must be brought into useful employment. “In some cases where skilled men have been permitted to enter the armed forces in the earlier stages of the war, and the increasing calls in industry no longer permit their retention, readjustment will be necessary. Fit men who are employed in work within the forces which can be done by women or by unfit men must be released for field service, while unfit men and women are mobilized to take their place. “Many of these steps involve nothing more than an acceleration or adjustment to the application of measures already given effect to and it Is inevitable that as the war situation develops unpredictable demands will be made on this country which will involve unexpected alterations to the general programme of organization which is outlined in the above measures. Readjustments of this nature Involve many technical considerations, and before enforcing any drastic readjustments to the conduct of whole industries, these industries will be consulted by the Government so that advantage can be taken of their cooperation and advice.”