POOL OF MAN POWER

Evening Star, Issue 24285, 28 August 1942, Page 6

POOL OF MAN POWER

ALL AGE GRIHIPS TO FORTY-FIVE

MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL NEEDS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. Au indication of the War Cabinet’s policy concerning the future use of the armed forces of the Dominion was given in an interview by the Minister of the Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, who also referred to the question of the country’s man power requirements.

“ Parliament has supported the War Cabinet’s decision to call up all men in the Dominion who are fit and able to bear arms,” Mr Coates said. “ That has already been initiated, and I think the people of New Zealand are entitled to know that it is the present intention to proceed with the regular balloting of men in all the age groups up to 45 years. This will include men who can be released from their present nonmilitary duties. The call-up will be in a series of ages, and the effect will be to create a pool of man power, which can be called upon as required from time to time, whether for the armed forces or for industry. By this means we will know the number of physically fit men in the country capable of bearing arms.” REINFORCEMENTS.

In reply to a question, Mr Coates said that” Parliament bad also endorsed the War Cabiuet’s decision to provide reinforcements and requirements for New Zealand troops, wherever they might be employed, and, if deemed essential, to supply New Zealand forces for any other theatre of war in which New Zealand’s help might be required. “ It might well be that future developments will show it to be wise and desirable that our troops should be employed in new theatres of war on the grounds that the safety of our own country and that of our Allies could best be served by going after and fighting the enemy, rather than awaiting him on our own shores,” the Minister added. “It should not be hard to visualise the havoc and destruction that would follow if New Zealand had to fight on her own shores, or, in other words, if New Zealand became a battlefront. Subject to approval by the War Cabinet, strategical considerations must of necessity determine any mission in which our troops are called upon to take their part, and in any case our effort will be aligned with that of the Allies in whatever theatre they may be engaged. Proper consideration will, of course, also ho given to the' necessary reserves, and especially to the protection of our own country. It should thus be clear that there is need for the maximum possible mobilisation and direction of man power for the armed services consistent, of course, with the country’s agricultural and industrial requirements.” Referring to the man power position of the Dominion generally, Mr Coates said a difficult position had developed. On the one hand, the fighting services were asking for continuous man power additions, and on the other the essential needs of the primary and manufacturing industries had to be safeguarded. The problem confronting the country was how to maintain a reasonable balance so that both tho > armed forces and industry could continue to function at maximum efficiency. In addition to her own military needs, New Zealand had certain obligations concerning supply which necessarily affected the industrial man power position.

“ With these matters in min'd, it will readily be seen that there must be careful calculations as to our capacity to meet all requirements,” Mr Coates concluded. “In addition, it must bo remembered that war-time conditions demand resilience and sudden alterations to a preconceived picture of our best course. Nevertheless, the basis upon which we are designing future policy is, of course, in preparation, and a great deal of work has already been done in that direction.”