Priority for Armaments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 7

Priority for Armaments

RECENT EVENTS MAKE IT NECESSARY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 5. The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, speaking in London, said that he was receiving large numbers of letters from people of all classes offering whatever services they could render their country. This, said Sir Thomas, was a remarkable manifestation of public spirit which, he hoped, the country could use. In referring to his talks with representatives of employers and of labour, Sir Thomas said: *‘l am a sufficient optimist to believe that goodwill and copperation will triumph over all our difficulties and that we shall find supplies of labour adequate for the programme which the Government has in mind.” Referring to the White Paper on the demands likely to be made on industry, he said: "The intention at the time was not to interfere more than necessary with civil industry, but events in the last few days have made it necessary—l hope only for a time—that the Government programme should have priority. "Examination of the figures of labour available in the engineering industry showed a surplus of 10,000 skilled and semi-skilled men.” In concluding, Sir Thomas said he was sure that the people of Britain had made up their minds that democracy should not De found wanting, and it would be much more impressive to the world at large if the programme could be completed, as he expected, without resorting to compulsion than if an Act of Parliament were passed dragooning the people in the way they should go.