The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4846, 18 April 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1918.

It is patent that the national service proposal which was before ‘Parliament some days ago is going to give rise to a great deal of criticism and ‘maybe not a little opposition. In brief, what is suggested is that the Government shall, if necessary, close down non-essen-tial industries and 'in addition it is empowered to control and regulate labor so that it may be ip a position to maintain essential industries in a manner that will overcome any difficulties that may arise on account of heavier demands for recruits from occupations of that character. Nobody, we should say, can, with any degree of reasonableness, offer any I valid objection. to the "principle] which is involved. Where fault may be found with the authorities is, however, in the fact that some such measure was not enforced at a much earlier stage of the /great struggle. It must appear to every right-think-ing elector in this Dominion that the National Government has, so far, lamentably failed in regard to this important phase of its war duties. In cold fact the Prime Minister and his colleagues have been content to follow the line of least resistance in connection with this matter, notwithstanding that evidence has continued rapidly to accumulate in the direction of showing that the longer the task was deferred the greater would be the difficulties that would lave to be encountered in order to u.'ing national service into force on i smooth-working basis. We do not wish to suggest that the National Cabinet has not done a lot of splem lid Avar work, but its neglect in the natter-to which we are alluding has jeen so glaring as to afford conclusive proof that the Government ~re[Uires very badly the aid of the ser •ices of outsiders who are gifted rifch exceptional business capacity f our Motherland had had to rely olely on her politicians to pilot tho hip. of State through the' great rises due to the war it would in due ourse have been found that things •ould have got into a wretched and arlous condition. The people oP his Dominion have, indeed, in some espects been living in a fool’s paraise, and when it is revealed how mch more might have been done i the nation’s interests if the Gov- ; rnment had been keenly alive to the ;al ’ situation much greater dissatisiction will be felt. Who can hon;tly compliment the Cabiet.on the position in which this JDoinioii to-day stands with reference » its industries and its public nrks ? It is only too well known

The National Service Proposal.

that thousands upon thousands of j fit single men have been retained in j essential industries in this country simply because the Government has ■ not had the enterprise and' the capacity to introduce a system wliereoy unfits, the idle rich, natives and foreigners - ' would be called upon or at least encouraged to learn some branch of an essential occupation, or undertake some work of national importance. What seems to be the true position is that the Govern- , ment is afraid of the Labor bogey. Already Labor has demanded that the facts be divulged as to the Government’s intentions in this matter. Sir Joseph Ward’s reply is as evasive as it is harmless, and it makes it is only too plain that in regard to this most important problem the Government as yet does not itself know where it stands or what it deems What is perturbing Labor chiefly is the vague wording of the Government’s proposal relating to “national service,’’ which term is described as “all service,, employment, occupation, business, work or industry of essential character whether under the Crown or under any employer or independent of any employer.” Labor seems to see in this proposal a hidden suggestion that anybody might be pressed into the service of a private employer at less than the rates of wages at present ruling in a paricular occupation. On behalf of the Government, however, Mr. Massey has given a definite promise that national service will not be allowed to be exploited for private gain. There is nothing that is unwarranted in the proposal that national service should apply to private enterprise as well as to the businesses and works undertaken by the Crown. National service, it is clear, must be made to apply to shipping, mines, freezing works and other industries which are privately owned and managed. Some considerable time back the Government compiled a register aimed at providing details as to occupations other than his customary one which every male resident could follow if the necessity should arise. But it is now considered that a further stock-taking of the manhood of the Dominion should be held. The Government also had - compiled a classification of ail industries and in addition -a classification of the workers engaged in all industries. It seems to have considered that when it had done that it had done very well and that it' had done enough in the meantime. What- has been the Government’s guiding thought has plainly been: “Sufficient for the day is the evil—in this instance immediate requirements—thereof.” The Government should now lose no time in doing its obvious duty. It should publish a list of industries, businesses and occupations which are not considered of an essential character, and it should also further follow the example of the Motherland in that it should debar fit men coming within certain ages from employment in connection with such nonessential work. When it has taken that step other measures aiming at the introduction of national service could speedily follow.