COMPETING CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1943, Page 4

COMPETING CLAIMS

? ON SERVICES OF WOMEN AND OIRLS IN FARMING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES PROVISION FOR APPEALS BY MANUFACTURERS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. As a guard against essential industry being adversely affected by the recruiting for the Women’s Land Army, provision is being made for employers of girls enlisting to have the right to appeal where recruits are already in essential occupations. This intimation was given by Mr Matheson, president' of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, addressing a meeting of the Garment Manufacturers’ Association last night. Ho said the principal reason certain types of civilian goods were in short supply still was shortage of manpower, and it was considered that land girls should be drawn from non-industrial areas, where they had closer contact with farm life, and where their homes were more likely to be nearer their work. The provision of special uniforms and other equipment for land girls, it was felt, would also increase the difficulties of meeting essential civilian requirements. The federation’s viewpoint had been explained to the Government and advice had been received that the National Service Department was making arrangements for manufacturers and others to have the right to appeal to manpower committees. It is understood that come into operation immediately, and no doubt full information will be made available by the National Service Department. In reply to an inquiry, Mr MacDonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, said the matter of the unsatisfactory position regarding the operation of the simplified clothing regulations was fully discussed with the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) during the annual conference at Napier. Mr Sullivan had been fully appreciative of the position and had intimated that the Government was taking steps to ensure the enforcement of the regulations and that instructions had been issued for a number of prosecutions.