The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, March 17th, 1942. NATIONAL DISCIPLINE

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1942, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, March 17th, 1942. NATIONAL DISCIPLINE

With {comparatively (few (exceptions, the fact that their own country is facing as great a peril as any other country at war is now well understood by New Zealanders. Some who have just awakened to that danger reveal their anxiety by telling others what they ought to do. The few who have yet to realise the grim truth are evidently incapable of so doing until such time as the visible presence of the enemy open their eyes to reality. In this category some critics have occasionally attempted to place a section of the workers. Those critics ought to study the pronouncement to-day published in which two of the greatest industrial organisations in the Dominion demonstrate their solid support for the defence avorks campaign. As they hint, the public probably are mostly ignorant of -what already has been done by the workers in this direction. To reveal even a tithe of that work -would be to risk informing the enemy, but it will in due time give added proof that on the industrial front ordinary New Zealanders have/ responded to the needs of the war quite as whole-heartedly and patritically as the members of the armed forces, and need never fear comparison with any other section of the community. If there meantime happens to be a dispute at one or two meat workers in the Auckland district, that is no reason to doubt the loyalty of the workers generally. On the contrary, this stoppage is rather an exception pointing to the general ride. It must be acknowledged that workers even in war time are obliged to uphold the principles of unionism, even if, at the same time it may be admitted that in the existing crisis, any other possible means of doing so is decidedly preferable to a stoppage in production when production is so very important for the war effort. The explanation is doubtless the lack of a proper sense of proportion on the part of those whose responsibility it is to lead the workers in question. On the other hand, there is also the question of the. attitude of

employers to the principles of unionism. The stress of Avar is no justification for opposition to those principles. Rather is it incumbent on all parties to industry at this time to put production first, and refrain from any attitude calculated to create an interruption. It must be remembered that it is the Avorkers Avho bear most of the strain' of ' war time production. Consequently a concilitory -bearing toAvards them is wiser than one of hostility. The Minister of Labour has shoAvn a prudent disposition in regard to the meat trouble, and his appeal for an early resumption ought to be calculated to secure the desired result. As he remarks, the country to-day is not. far at ad from a situation inAA’hich military control might, entail mobilisation on the industrial front by methods as peremptory as those in vogue now upon the military front. It is, however, preferable that the spirit of those Avo'rkers’ organisations engaged on defence Avorks should now characterise all other workers and that certain rights Avhich cannot be exercised in the way of hours, conditions and even Avages should be sacrificed Avillingly to meet the national emergency. Above all else Avhat all must practise is discipline. In some districts there are Avell-meant movements designed to hasten the mobilisation of the AA'holc nation, and perhaps there are ether districts where the same sentiment might be cultivated Avith advantage. Yet the initiative must ultimately rest Avith the constituted authorities, and it is only in the gradually-contracting sphere for voluntary effort that there is scope for amateur enterprise. As instanced in the sphere of defence Avorks, there is a very great, field of defence activity as to Avhich it is necessary that the public shall not be informed to any great extent, with the result that defence measures long since instituted are imagined by an anxious section to have been forgotten. By all means let the authorities encourage’ recruiting of every service established in the interests of defence, and also the most active training of all the members. Discipline, and service may certainly be promoted by individual initiative and example, as well as by collective organisation. Taken as a AA'holc, the morale of the people leaves little reason for misgiving. Less demonstrative perhaps than others, the testing time will not find Ncav Zcalanders -wanting.