MUNITION WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 16, 14 October 1942, Page 8

MUNITION WORKERS

Need For Manufacturers To Appeal

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 13.

Reference to the shortage of skilled tradesmen for the manufacture of munitions and appeals made for munition workers called up for military service was made by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, after he had completed his tour of Christchurch factories engaged in war production. He said that in the past large numbers of skilled tradesmen had joined the forces, and now that we were faced with the imperative need of properly equipping these fighting forces we found frequently that our efforts were limited to the capacity of depleted industrial staff. It had been necessary •for him to instruct the various manufacturers to appeal in the case of munition workers called up. The granting of such appeals had sometimes been the cause of , some criticism by people who thought perhaps that all fit men should be in the fighting forces. He emphasized that it was only by maintaining our production at the highest peak possible that we would be able to give the soldiers the equipment they required. On the other hand, he sometimes received complaints from munition contractors of difficulty they hiid of convincing appeal courts of the necessity for the retention of skilled workers. The responsibility resting on the boards, it was natural they should/ be content only with the fullest evidence. It was their duty to make the fullest inquiry into all cases, and he was sure their decisions would be for the highest good of New Zealand.