Evening star., 1942-08-16
Canada Puts PriOrities on Labor
Every Adult in Dominion Being Brought Under
System to Conserve Manpower for War Effort
By b. T. Richardson
By B. T. Richardson.

OTTAWA-So acute has the shortage
OF labor become in Canada for essential
war industries and for the armed forces
that system OF labor priorities is being
rapidly rounded into shape to cover the
entire adult population of the country.
There will be four classes of priority
OF employment in Canada, according to
plans that are expected to go into oper-
alton within a month Very high labor
priority, high labor priority, low labor
priority and no labor priority. Every
industry and occupation will in time be
brought within this priority system. All
occupations that receive no priority po-
sition at all will be subject to closing
down, bringing for the first time in
Canada the prospect of actual shutting
down of industries because the man.
power employed in them may be required
more usefully elsewhere in industry es-
sential to the war. Hitherto, closing
down OF non-essential industries has
been effected only by shortages OF mate
rials.
In order to clarity the position Of
every individual male, so that he will
know, and his employer as well, when
and If he will be called for military
service, each individual will be classified
as quickly as possible. The main pur-
pose is to give notice to employers of
the necessity of training substitutes
chiefly women.
Enlistments Restricted.
One development expected shortly will
place women in charge of streetcar and
notorious operations as much as DOS
sible everywhere in Canada
The new comprehensive system of Sc
iective service is being developed under
the Department of Labor at Ottawa. It
will eliminate entirely, officials believe.
the existing system of volunteer enlist
ments in the army, navy and air force.
The first steps in prohibiting the en-
hstment OF men who cannot be re-
placed have already been taken. For
Two years past trained technicians.
highly skilled men such as chemists,
physicists and engineers, have been un-
der complete control as far as employ
ment was concerned Many of them
entered the armed forces early in the
war, but to retain this class of brains
and skill they were all required to reg
lister and remain at work where their
services were required, If the govern
ment decided they were needed more
in civilian than in military service.
But since acute shortage began to\
appear in war industries and essential
civilian occupations a few weeks ago,
several orders have been issued to keep
trained men at civilian work.
Can't Call Aircraft Workers.
AS far as the draft is concerned, work.
ers in airplane spruce production and
in base metal mining in British Column
bia cannot be called by the army. Tech
nically, workers in these industries can
still enlist, but this right is also expected !
to be curtailed. Both these lines of
production find difficulty in operating |
on substitute labor, such as women. The |
gold-mining industry has also been re-
fused the right to hire any more work.
ers, as long as shortage exists In base
metal mines.
The central control OF Canadian man
power will be exercised by the National
eelectivs Service. which for several