LABOUR SCARED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 7

LABOUR SCARED.

CONSCRIPTION TALK. British Plans to Meet Sudden Emergency. EXAGGERATED . SURPRISE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LOXDOX, May 31. Labour members were alarmed when Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, said in the House of Commons that in the event of war there was certain to be a competent authority to allocate a suitable position tg each individual; nobody could escape his duty by choosing an attractive position in peace time, for instance, the territorials or air raid wardens. Mr. J. C. Ede (Lab., South Shields) interpreted this as meaning that legislative machinery had already been devised for conscription. Other Labour members demanded to know if the plans included the conscription of labour and wealth. Sir Thomas Inskip emphasised th.it the plans were si bject to submission to the House at the proper time. Labour members contended that the plans should be produced. The House immediately demanded an opportunity for a full discussion, but the debate automatically ended at 11.30 p.m. Great Scientists Help. Sir Thomas Inskip, in a broadcast, said: "Joint plans have been prepared for the Xavy and Air Force for every emergency, and providing complete trade protection. "Some of our greatest scientists are helping in the task of air defence. Some of the latest discoveries are already coming into use, and an enemy may expect to encounter some formidable and perhaps unexpected forms of defence." The political correspondent of the Australian Associated Press states that conscription will be submitted to Parliament for instant introduction immediately a war occurs—this is the actual meaning of Sir Thomas Inskip's statement in the House of Commons, the suddenness and unexpectedness of which, occurring in a minor debate when only 50 members were in the Chamber, caused exaggerated surprise, stimulated by Labour members' attempts to seek political capital. Apart from the circumstances in which it was made, the . statement contained nothing new. It did not go beyond Mr. Chamberlain's earlier declarations, nor does it alter the Government's unequivocal assurances that conscription will not be introduced in peace time. Arising out of Sir Thomas Inskip's speech last night, Mr. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, refused Mr. C. R. Attlee's request to publish a White Paper setting out the measures contemplated for wartime service. Mr. Chamberlain said that plans would be presented to Parliament if and • when the occasion arose. He denied . that Sir Thomas Inskip had stated that i a Conscription Act was in existence. Mr. W. Wedgwood Benu (Lab., Manchester) quoted Hansard, but Mr. Chamberlain said the position would be cleared up later if opportunity arose.

NEW APPOINTMENT.

RESEARCH AT WAR OFFICE. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, May 31. Dr. H. J. Gough, superintendent of the engineering department of the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington, has been appointed to the new post of Director of Scientific Research at the War Office, which was forecast by the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belislia, in introducing the Army Estimates in March. A doctor of science, Dr. Gough, who k 48 yeans of age, was appointed to hie post at Teddington in 1930. After serving his apprenticeship with the armaments firm of Vickers, Ltd., he joined the scientific staff of the National Physical Laboratory in 1914. He later volunteered for service in France, and served with the Royal Engineers throughout the Great War. commanding the signal section from 1916 to 1919. He is the author of many publications on technical subject®, and has also held several important lectureships.

When he introduced the Army Estimates on March 10 in the House ot Commons, Mr. Hore-Belislia said that the ever-increasing complexity o £ modern methods of warfare required that the branches of scientific and industrial research should be kept at the highest pitch of inventiveness and correlation. The invaluable labours of manv scientists employed directly or in an advisory capacity by the War Office would be coordinated by a Director of Scientific: Research.