The Dominion SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1943. MANPOWER FOR INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 18, 16 October 1943, Page 4

The Dominion SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1943. MANPOWER FOR INDUSTRY

An interesting summary of the extent to which labour has been released from the armed forces for essential industry was given by the Dominion Manpower Controller (Mr. H. L. Bockett) in an address to the Manufacturers’ Federation Conference in Napier. He said that since April last 12,000 people had been released for industrial work 3500 to primary industries, 1200 to building construction, 1400 to transport and communications, 2800 to manufacturing, 2000 to commerce and finance, 100 to heat, light and power production, and the remainder to unspecified industries, Ihe allocation, so far as it goes, appears to have been comprehensive; but these figures, considered by themselves, give no clue'to the adequacy of the programme. Ihe real measure of what has been done, not only in directing labour from the armed forces, but also in adjusting civilian labour, cannot be ascertained by the public until figures are available comparing the numbers of releases to various industries or services with the number of applications for labour. Less than two months ago the statement was made that BUUU vacancies existed in industry for work of the “highest priority.” Some of these vacancies may have been filled by means of the manpower releases referred to by Mr. Bockett, but it is not clear how many. Nor was it made plain, when the figure of 8000 urgent vacancies was given by a representative of the National Service Department in an address to the Vocational Guidance Conference, whether the vacancies covered all fields of essential civilian requirements or only a certain specially needful group. The position as a whole, therefoie, remains obscure. To take manufacturing—the public cannot tell how far the 2800 people released from the armed forces have gone in filling the gaps. Similarly, with the building industry. The release of 1200 men in this quarter may or may not have been an adequate allocation. Again, many people may wonder, in view of the extreme shortage of heat, light and power, whether a serious position might not be assisted by the release of more than 100 workers for this sphere of production. Finally, no specific mention was made by the Controller of the release of surplus women from the armed forces. There may,be some significance in his use of the term “people’’ rather than “men,” but this is the only hint —if it was intended as a hint—that persons other than men have been included among those released. This point, as well as others, should be clarified. Instead of leaving it to administrative officers to present, incomplete glimpses of the manpower position in. the course of addresses to various sectional groups, it would be desirable for the Minister of Manpower to present a single comprehensive survey. Especially would this be welcomed for frank public estimation and discussion at a time when, according to report, there is about to be instituted a Territorial training scheme involving both single and married men, which seems bound to make fresh inroads upon the manpower continuously available for production and community service. ’_____