N.Z. MANPOWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1943, Page 3

N.Z. MANPOWER

PRODUCTION OF FOODSTUFFS DIFFICULT DECISION TO BE MADE. PRESS DELEGATE’S VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 29. “New Zealand has a very difficult decision to make regarding manpower,” said Sir Walter Layton, leader of the British Newspaper Proprietors’ Delegation, in discussing his impressions of conditions in the Dominion after the week’s tour of the delegation. “New Zealand is a base for conducting the war -in the Pacific area, while at the same time being called upon to help to relieve the great food supply problems of the United Nations, particularly Britain,” said Sir Walter. “The position in Britain is far from easy regarding the supply of meat. New Zealand is specially well equipped for the production of meat and other agricultural foodstuffs, and it becomes a question whether its part in the united war effort can be better fulfilled in food production or in endeavouring to maintain divisions in Europe and the Pacific. The men of the New Zealand Middle East Division have done so magnificently and arc so highly skilled in war that it would seem almost waste to recall one single man. “It is obvious that New Zealand is intimately concerned in the war in the Pacific, but it seems that New Zealand has not enough manpower for the three tasks it has set itself, that is, the production of food and the maintenance of two divisions in different and separate war theatres.

“The facts as presented to us show that New Zealand has mobilised for the war as high a percentage of manpower as Britain herself. The decision facing New Zealand must be taken not only in the light of manpower, but the question of diverting men from the Armed Forces to food production is wrapped up with the country’s capacity to produce and the amount of fertiliser available. “Recognising New Zealand’s difficulties in making a decision, I would say that it must be taken through consultation with the central direction of the United Nations’ war effort. One thing can be recognised, namely, that the function of New Zealand as a supplier of certain types of food is irreplacable, whereas the gradual replacement of men withdrawn from the Armed. Forces of the United Nations is possible.”