Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1943. MANPOWER AND LEADERSHIP.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1943. MANPOWER AND LEADERSHIP.

JfAKING a brief statement on manpower in the House of Representatives at the end of last week —a statement preliminary to the discussion of that question which is to open in the House tomorrow—the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) ob-< served that he agreed with a member who had said that there was a danger of the country becoming too complacent. The Prime Minister added that he did not think there was any danger of the House becoming complacent. We know (he said) the hard and grim struggle ahead of us, but the circumstances do warrant reconsideration of the situation and we have to face up to what the military requirements of the country are and what industry needs. If there is any danger of the country becoming complacent on the subject of manpower it is, of course, for the War Cabinet and Parliament to eliminate that danger by giving a clear and decided lead. It greatly affects the position that some of the most vital details with regard to the calls made upon the manpower of the Dominion cannot well be made publicly known, because this would mean giving away information to the enemy. The matter is one in which far-reaching powers and a corresponding responsibility of necessity are delegated to the Government and Parliament and it need not be doubted that the country will accept in a g.ood spirit what the Government, with the support of Parliament, declares to be necessary. All the more, however since the issues involved cannot be thrown open for geneial and detailed public discussion, it will be expected that the proposals of the Government, or the War Cabinet, shall be scrutinised keenly by Parliament and that members shall satisfy themselves that the best and most advantageous use is being made of available manpower in the armed forces and in industry. All reasonable people will be bound to agree that there can be no easy and comfortable adjustment of these questions in time of war and that needs and requirements which in other and happier times might be regarded as imperative may hate to be passed over for the time being. With much that the Prime Minister had to say on the subject of the utilisation of manpower it is impossible to do anything* else than agiee unreservedly. Not only, for example, is it a bounclen duty to support and reinforce our troops in the field, but it is certainly essential, as Mr Fraser contended, that the ability should be retained to regroup to full war establishment should the necessity arise. One of the questions on which Parliament ought to satisfy itself, where the direct defence of the Dominion, as distinct from the employment of troops overseas, is concerned, is whether adequate thoftght and attention have been given to the possibility of relying to an important degree on a reserve of men, 'trained and immediately at call, but freed for industrial or other employment during a considerable part of the year. Men of course have been released from camp in fairly large numbeis to engage in industry, but this is not quite the same thing as the organisation of a regular reserve. The main point to be made in regard to the manpower situation as a whole is, as has been said, that the country is entitled to a clear and resolute lead in a policy for which Parliament is prepared to share responsibility with the Government and the War Cabinet.