Full Mobilisation Of Dominion Manpower

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 4

Full Mobilisation Of Dominion Manpower

Press Assn.

Creation of pool for army and industry.

Wellington, Last Night.

An indication of the War Cabinets policy concerning the future use of the ar'med forces of the Dominion was given in an interview to-night by the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who also referred to the question of the country's manpower requirements. "Parliament has sup-ported the War Cahjnet's decision to call up all men in the Dominion fit and able to bear arms," said Mr. Coates. "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 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 manpower which can be called upon as required from time to time, whether for the armed forces or for industry. By this means we shall know the number of physically fit men in the country capable of bearing arms." In reply to a question, Mr. Coates said Parliament had also endorsed the War Cabinet's decision to provide reinforcements and requirements for New Zealand's troops wherever they might be employed and, if deemed essential, to supply the 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 that safety of our own country and that of our Allies could best be served i

by going after and fighting the enemy, rather than by awaiting him on our own shores," said Mr. Coates. 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 consideration 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 our Allies in whatever theatre they may be engaged. Proper considerations will, of course, also be given to 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 manpower for the armed services, consistent, of course, with the country's agricultural and industrial requirements." Referring to the manpower position in the Dominion generally, Mr. Coates said a difficult position had developed. On the one hand the fighting services were asking for a continuous manpower addition, and on the other essential needs of primary and manufacturing industries had to be safeguarded. The problem confronting the country was how to maintain a reasonable balance so that both the arrfied forces and industry could continue to function at the maximum efficiency. In addition to her own military ireeds, New Zealand had certain obligations concerning the supply which necessarily affected the industrial manpower position. "With these matters in mind, it will readily be seen that there must be careful calculations as to our capacity to meet all requifements," concluded Mr. Coates. "In addition, it must be remembered that wartime 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."