TRAGEDY THREATENED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 26 February 1941, Page 2

TRAGEDY THREATENED

AUSTRALIA’S POSITION WARNING BY MR. BEASLEY BIG WAR EFFORT NEEDED SYDNEY, Feb. 1. “Selfish or subversive interests, in any section of the community, must be compelled to stand aside,” said the leader of the Non-Communist Labour Party, Mr. Beasley, yesterday, when emphasising the dangers now confronting Australia.

•‘I can endorse what the Premier of Queensland, Mr. Porgan Smith, saul about the imminence in Australia of the tragedies that have happened overseas,” Mr. Beasley went on. “As o, member of the War Council I have no illusions about the shocking tragedy that may overwhelm us overnight.

“I agree with Mr. Porgan Smith that there are too many people in Australia who do not realise what the present war means to this country. It is imperative that, in the little time that may be left to us, no effort should- be slackened and no time lost in preparing to work and fight to our utmost for the preservation of our country and oiir free institutions. .t ...“Selfish Monopolies”

“Just as it is necessary to curb the Cornrhunist, so it is necessary to curb thevproyocative attitude of some selfish monopolies,” Mr. Beasley continued. “What Mr. Forgan Smith does not realise is that the fault for the slackening of effort is not entirely on one side. Partly it lies at the door of the Government and partly at the door of a group of stiff-necked vested interests which wish to obtain the maximum sacrifice of time, effort, and money from their, employees and make no equal sacrifice themselves, and. at the same time, endeavour to eliminate the smaller competitor, who, if allowed to develop his industry for full .war production, might be business rivals after the war is over.

"We must get on with the job without interruption, because the danger is grave on all fronts and the time may be short. The Government must now begin by taking the workers into its confidence, by giving them the truth of the war position, and by exercising authority over private employers and Government contractors to force them to abandon any ‘stand and deliver’ methods and to cooperate freely and honestly with the unions.

‘l have no hesitation in appealing for -bur maximum effort,” Mr. Beasley , said. "But I feel that the appeal is as urgent to both the Government and the employers as to the unions.

"We are in a national crisis which may easily become desperate. We must face it as partners. We must fight it as partners. And as partners in the destiny of a great nation, we must all co-operate in rebuilding our national life.

“The absurdity of abnormal profits on the one side and extreme poverty on the other must cease. The spectacle of a minority living in complete security while there is only fear and economic insecurity for the»great majority. must end. The time to begin it is now.”