ALL-IN WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 9, 22 October 1940, Page 3

ALL-IN WAR

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.

THE PEOPLE MUST BE UNITED.

WORKERS MUST NOT SLACK

(Per Press Association). WESTPORT, October 21

In addressing large meetings of raihvaymen and Avatersiders 10-dav the Hon. P. C. Webb (Minister of Labour) dealt Avith the Government’s Avar policy. He said that the Government Avas 100 per cent, behind the British Empire in its titanic struggle against tyranny of the Avorst form. If Britain Avent down in this groat struggle, all that the Avorkers and lovers of freedom ever fought and suffered for in the Avay ol democracy and the right to establish trade councils Avould go. The Nazi regime had no respect for liberty ol thought or action. “Not a A r estige of economic or political freedom exists in the -countries dominated by our enemies,” said Mr Webb. “The rights and wrongs of past Avars do not enter into this conflict. It is too late uoav to hold post-mortems on what might have been. The hour has struck for .every man, Avoman and child to be in their right place to give of their best to the country in: its great war effort.

“While Ave are many miles aAvay from the actual scene of the battle, Ave can appreciate the great sacrifices our people are making at Home for the preservation of that liberty that is so near and dear to the hearts of us all,” said the Minister. “Never In the history of the Avorld has the Labour movement been so. Solidified in its determination to co-operate Avith all other sections of the community to destroy this cruel despotic poAver. Every worker Avho fails to give of his best is letting his oavu country doAvn. Every business that is poorly run is a drag on our industrial life. Every farm inefficiently Avorked is a sprag in the Avheel of our war effort. There is only one dominant note that must be sounded, and that note is the unity of all our people against the common enemy. In the Avords of the late Mr M. J. Savage, ‘where Britain stands, we stand. If Britain goes down, Ave go down.’ Our first line of defence is overseas in Great Britain, and on the many war fronts Avhere Britain is engaged. That is Avhere our men, Avomen and children are being -blown to pieces by murderous enemy bombs, Avhilo we here arc enjoying comparative safety, hardly knowing that the Avar exists. Hoav long that safety even here Avill last the future alone can tell. Thus it behoves us to prepare for any eventuality.” “There must be no slacking and petty strikes on the part of the Avorkers and no pin-pricking or lockouts on the part of employers,” said the -Minister. “It is an all-in war. ManpoAver and Avealth is being marshalled in the interests of our common defence, and any individual class or section of the community Avhich stands in the Avay of our determination to put to the best use every element of our national life Avill be brushed aside. We as a people must march on together. “As evidence of this spirit, I would like to emphasise what took place recently in Wellington when representatives of all employing classes and Avorkers organisations met in conference,” said Mr Webb “The Prime Minister made an earnest appeal for a conference -to pool its knoAvledge and experience and co-operate to the fullest extent in our national effort. The conference responded magnificently and selected a committee equally representative of employers and Avorkers and presided over by Mr A. T. Donnelly, chairman of directors of the Bank of NteAV Zealand, which spent six Aveeks of diligent research into the economic and Avar activities of the Government.

“Our Avar measures and our monetary system Avere thoroughly overhauled. In fact, every phase of our economic life Avas thoroughly investigated. The committee prepared and submitted a unanimous report to the general conference Avhich, in turn, gaA r e it unanimous approval to the great satisfaction of the people of this country. This body of men brought down proposals in a unanimous spirit for the purpose of closing up our ranks and uniting our efforts in order that the maximum Avar effort might be expressed in most intelligent and practical Avay. This committee’s findings have been Avidely published, eagerly read and much appreciated by every thinking person in the coiumu,nnity, and my association Avith a number of these men on both sides of politics lias convinced me that a new era lias come into being. Communist Critics. “Let me say to some of our Communist critics' that it is hypocritical on their part to condemn conscription in New Zealand while supporting it m foreign countries,” said Mr Webb. “The recent Emergency War Regulations that have so severely criticised were brought into being lor the purpose of preventing any abotnge of our Avar effort taking place. They were never introduced for the stifling of tbe people’s freedom, but if linn aie Avorking in key positions and em.mit acts Avhich Avould endanger >ur war effort, the Government must have and has taken and will not hesitate to exercise it where Avarranted. But, of course, there is the right of appeal to the Arbitration Court.”