PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 24874, 14 October 1942, Page 4

PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS

Appeals For Skilled Tradesmen (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct 13. A reference to the shortage of skilled tradesmen for the manufacture of munitions and the appeals made for munition workers called up for military service was made by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, after he had completed his tour of Christchurch factories engaged in war production. The Minister 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 a depleted industrial staff. “It has therefore been necessary for me,” added the Minister, “to instruct the various manufacturers that when members of their staffs engaged on munitions work are called up for military service appeals should be made to the Armed Forces Appeal Board in order that the best endeavour should ge made to retain these essential workers on. the manufacture of munitions. The granting of these appeals has sometimes been the cause of some criticism by people who think perhaps that all fit men should be in the fighting forces. Let me say to these people in all earnestness that it is only by maintaining our production at the highest peak possible that we will be able to give our soldiers the equipment they require. CONTRACTORS’ COMPLAINTS “It is only by the efforts of our manufacturers and workers who 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 hand, I have sometimes received complaints from munitions contractors of the difficulty that they have of convincing the appeal boards 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 responsibility, should be content only with the fullest evidence that it is possible for industry to put forward. It must be realized, too, that the task of the appeal boards is so extreme that it is their duty to make the fullest inquiry into all cases that come before them, and I am sure that their decisions will be for the highest good of New Zealand.”