DOMINION MANPOWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1943, Page 2

DOMINION MANPOWER

REDISTRIBUTION SCHEME WAR CABINET PROPOSALS. PLACED BEFORE PARLIAMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Proposals drawn up by the War Cabinet for the redistribution of manpower with the dual object of maintaining the effectiveness of the New Zealand forces and giving greater assistance to the primary and secondary industries, were placed before members of both Houses of Parliament when they met in the social hall at Parliament' Buildings yesterday. The meeting was held there so that the chiefs of the fighting services could give to members all available information on the war situation and its bearing on the manpower problem, and could in turn be questioned on points of detail. Commencing at 10.30 a.m., the meeting continued till 1 p.m., when the luncheon adjournment was taken. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m., and after formal business members returned to the social hall to resume the manpower discussion. At the morning meeting the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who presided, outlined the War Cabinet’s proposals, the Minister of War Co-ordination, Mr Coates, supplementing his remarks. The General Officer Commanding New Zealand Forces, Lieut.-General E. Puttick, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Commodore R. V. Goddard, spoke, on the progress of the war. with particular reference to the Pacific. In the afternoon, the Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Sir Atwell, Lake, addressed members on naval matters. Thereafter till the meeting concluded shortly after 5 p.m. members availed themselves of the Prime Minister’s invitation to ask questions. It was originally intended that the House should debate the manpower policy last night, but it was decided to defer discussion till today, when the House will devote the whole day to the proposals.