MUST DO MORE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20255, 24 May 1940, Page 4

MUST DO MORE

BRITAIN’S EXAMPLE ALL TO PLAY PART TIME FOR ACTION VIEWS OF MR. SEMPLE (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “They have taken drastic and revolutionary measures in Great Britain to do their bit to pull their weight and to pay their quota and action of an extreme character will probably be necessary in this country before l°ng.” said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview last night. The Minister said he was not in a position to say what would be done, or what his colleagues in the Cabinet had in mind, but it seemed to him ttat New Zealand would have to do more, although it was doing its best. “Everybody has to realise that we are in the throes of the greatest struggle the British Empire has ever been up against and at this moment there is no time for any feeling by wayside, or side-stepping of responsibilities,” said Mr. Semple. “The only way we can come victoriously out of this struggle is for every physicallyfit man and woman in the British Commonwealth to do their, best. Those who cannot fight must work and if they will not work they must starve. They will have no alternative.” . This was no time for philosophising or loitering, said Mr. Semple. It was time for action. Production Needed Discussing public works, the Minister said it was a moral certainty that there had to be a reshuffling of cards and changes made to speed up production and to concentrate human labour on production. “There is no question any more, now that the war is on, of making jobs in the backyard for anybody,” he declared. Questioned on the likelihood of a further stoppage of jobs following the announcement that the Paeroa-Pokeno railway construction was to cease, Mr. Semple replied that it was not proposed to stop the South Island Main Trunk railway construction. It might be necessary, he said, to slow up on it, but not to stop it unless something very serious happened. “The line is nearing completion; we are up to schedule, which fixes the finish in 1941 and it would be a pity and waste to stop at this stage,” he said. “Maybe we will have, to steady up the work, but its stoppage has not been considered.” Haast Pass Road The Haast Pass road, on which there is' another three years’ work, was inspected by the Minister this week. He was asked if this highway construction would be stopped. “I promised the men on that job that the future was in the lap of the Gods,” he replied. “I told them that I could not give them any promise either way and that the continuance of the work depended on the circumstances. However, we are already working on short staff on that highway which will connect Otago with the south of Westland.