Evening star., 1942-10-18
Australia Solves
Monpower Problem
Bv Frederic J. Hnsktn.

The United Nations have mace rapid
progress in marshaling manpoWer ana
providing streamlined services Tor the
fighting forces, but on a basis OF pop
ulation and from reports, Australla Is
we'll in the lead. What that country
has achieved in organization and monh-
ization of manpower with its populatloh
of only 100000 could we'll be cited as
an example of the determination WHICH
the Axis powers are facing.
At the beginning of the First World
War, Australias Prime Minister, AndreW
Fisher, coined phrase that swept
around the world. He pledged Australia's
aid to the mother country Ito the last
man and the last shilling" Australia
put forth a commendable effort IN that
struggle by raising large army OF VOL
unteers, and the country as well as the
Allies still look upon the achievements
with pardonable pride.
But the First World War was not
total war. The present one Is and Aus
tralia literally is pledging its every man
and every shilling to help win it. Thus
a grand phrase coined more than two
decades ago is becoming fact, and
rapidly, because by the close of 1872
Australia will have a minimum of 31G.-
900 men and women in service. That
is not a vast army of fighters and wc@,.,-
| ers when compared with many co,cr
countries, but on the basis of Australia's
population, it is one of the largest single
| groups found among the United Nations.
Australians are serving and will serve in
all capacities, from the hardest and most
dangerous fighting to the preparation of
the last need for the front-line forces.
And if need be, every man, woman and
child will render some type of assistance.
Thus Australia has tackled the man
power problem, both military and civil
ian, with a full knowledge that every
man, woman and child counts immeas-
urably in a small population. And as
time goes on the Importance CT each
| fighter and of each civilian worker will
| be all the greater.
Australia was fairly slow in starting,
for, like the United States, it's people
were not War-rlinded and not accu5-
toned to quick mobilization. Through
its comparatively short history Australia
has had a sort of security which possibly
| no other nation has felt. Like some of
Its associates now in the fight, it alwavs
has had such high regard for human
liberty and happiness that it did not
1oresee fully that other peoples had
little respect for the democratic wav
OF lie. Still, the war has not changed
the high ideals of the Australians,
Rather, it has forced the country to
nght to sustain its chosen way of living.
| Inc hrst system Australia adopted was
to call men for the army from age
groups, and then exempt from service
those who were covered by a long list
OF reserved occupations. In addition to
those not exempted, thousands volun-
teered Tor the fighting forces, many OBJ
talnlng special release from their en-
ployers if they were in reserved occupa-
lions. That system raised large arnlv.
out not large enough for what the gov
ernment considered necessary for a
total war
When Japan entered the war it was
clear that Australia faced direct threat.
Immediately two-fold registration was
launched. In the first instance. all
males and females Is years of age and
over were required to register so the
country might have complete inventory
OF It's human power. In addition, all men
between the ages of 18 and so were re-
qulred to register for military service.
lhe army call-ups from this latter regis
tratlon, together with the large number
OF volunteers, swelled the armed forces
enormously. The long list of reserved
occupations, however, was a hindrance.
put this was quickly adjusted. For eX-
ample, industry was divided into three
groups of priority, eliminating manv of
the reserved occupations formerly esteb-
hshed, thus releasing thousands for the
armed forces or for transfer to munitions
factories.
Australia's selective service is such that
the army can draft bricklayer, car
penter or steamfitter with the same
power that it could place a man in the
armed forces. Not only So but the gov.
ernment has power to call on any person
10 place himself or his property, or both.
at the disposal of his country Moreover,
the long-established right of EMPLOYERS
10 hire and fire, and for employees to pick
their jobs is set aside for the duration.
This, with the pegging of wages, was a
long step, particularly for a labor gov
errment.
However, latitude and reason were not
eliminated. For a serious offense tho
employer can dismiss the employe and
refer the matter to the proper authorities
Tor final decision. Not only so. but if a
worker is in non-essential industry and
desires transfer to an essential one he
can obtain such a permit.
When these sweeping changes vera
made, including the registration of all
unemployed persons and their assign.
ment to jobs selected by the government
labor unions took cognizance of what was
fundamentally in opposition to their
policies. And since Australia has ALWAYS
had a militant trade union movement
Jealously watching the rights of its mem.
oers 1t appeared for time that a clash
between the unions and the government
would be inevitable. But the unions Co.
cided their policies also were in dir,ct
opposition to the forces that threatened
tne nation So wholehearted support
was given the government.
Australia speaks of her wartime
changes as "a peaceful revolution" and
Is planning additional measures so that
the efforts Of every man, woman and
child OF the continent will count in helm
ny ~ hA