DEPLETION OF STAFFS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 5

DEPLETION OF STAFFS

NEED TO RETAIN MEN. INDICATION BY MINISTER,

P.A.

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 13.

Reference to the shortage of skilled tradesmen for the manufacture of munitions and the appeals made for munition woi'kers callea up for military service, was made by the Minister for supply, Mr Sullivan, after he had completed a touv of Christchurch factories engaged in wai' production. He said that in the past larfee number s oi skilled tradesmen had joined the forces and now that the Dominion was faced with the imperative need of properly equipping these fighting forcecs, it had been found frequently that production, efforts were limited to> the capacity of the depleted industrial staffs:. "It has therefore been necessary for me," said the Minister, "to instruct various manufacturers that when members of their staffs, engaged on munitions work are called up for military service appeals be made to the Armed Forces Appeal Court in order that the best en-

deavour be made to refeain these essential workers on the manufacture of munitions. The granting of these appeals has sometimes been tne cause of some criticism by people who think perhaps that all fit men should be in the fighting forces, "Let me say to these people1 in all earnestness, that it is only by maintaining our production at the* hig'hest peak possible that we will be able to give our soldiers the equipment they require," the Minister declared. "It is only by the efforts of our manufacturers and workers that are still available, that we will be able to put into the hands of our fighting forces the weapons which will make their efforts successful. "On the other Land I sometimes receive complaints frcm munitions eontractors of the difficulty that they have of ccnvincing Appeal Courts of the necessity for the retention of skilled workers," said Mr Sullivan. "In the circumstances it is natural that these boards, on whom rests a heavy responsibiiity, shculd be content only with the fullest evidence that it is possible for industry to put forward. It must be realised too, that the task of the Appeal Courts is extremely difficult, and that it is their duty toi make the fullest inquiry into all cases that comei before them. I am sure that their decisions will be for the highest good of New Zealand."