WARTIME POWERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20275, 17 June 1940, Page 11

WARTIME POWERS

OBTAINING MANPOWER CONSCRIPTION METHOD “ Stating that he had always been more of a militarist than other members of the Government, the M.P. fw Hawke’s Bay, Mr. E. L. Cullen, told the P. and T. Employees’ Association in Napier that he had always believed that military life in peacetime would have been valuable to the young men of this country. Those who did not favour military service could be glad he was not Minister of Defence. Mr. Cullen said it was wonderful to learn through the secret session of Parliament how much had really been done in this country. “The Government has the authority, and will use it, to obtain the manpower it requires; it will be in the form of conscription, but conscription by selection,” Mr. Cullen said. “I do not agree that if the Mother Country goes under we must follow her. We must fight to thp finish, but I do not believe Britain will go under. We need confidence within the Dominion. I should like to put every pessimist into His Majesty’s prisons. “The world has never before seen a feat such as that which rescued our kith and kin from a death trap in Europe. It must have won praise from Jerry himself,” he said. “There is a possibility that this will be a long war, and one, I am afraid, that will weaken the British Empire as well as other empires. We must assist those who have gone overseas. We must see to it that we have something for them to return to. Longer Hours Predicted “The training system of our troops is on a grander and better scale than during the last war,” he concluded. “Our trpops are better equipped for what is required of them, and our camps are second to none. Working hours in New Zealand in all probbility wjll have to be extended during the war period in every branch of industry.” 1 Speaking at the same gathering, Mr. H. M. Patrick, Wellington, senior inspector of the P. and T. Department, said women would be trained to replace men in the postal and telegraphic branches. Already schools had beep established in Wellington for training women operators to use teleprinting machines. Mr. Patrick emphasised that the department was taking steps to safeguard promotions. All who went away would be able to take back those same positions on returning.