Must Work If They Can't Fight

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 122, 24 May 1940, Page 6

Must Work If They Can't Fight

No Time for Side-stepping Responsibilities WELCOME SPEECH BY HON B. SEMPLE Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 23. “They have taken drastic and revolutionary measures in Great Britain to do their bit to pull their weight and to pay their quota, and action of an extreme character will probably be necessary in this country before long,” said Hon. R. .Semple, interviewed tonight.

The Minister said ho was not in a position to say what would be done or what his colleagues in Cabinet had in mind, but it seemed to him that New Zealand would have to do more although it was doing its beat. “Everybody has to realiso that we are in the throes of the greatest struggle the British Empire has ever been up against and at this moment there is no time for any loitering by the wayside or sidestepping of responsibilities. The only way we can come victoriously out of this struggle is for every physically fit man and woman in the British Commonwealth to do their best.

“ Those who cannot flght must work and if they won’t work they must starve. They will have no alternative. ’ ’

This was no time for philosophising or loitering, said Mr. Semple. It was time for action.

Discussing public works, the Minister said it was a moral certainty that there had to be a reshuffling of the cards and for changes to be made to speed up production and to concentrate human labour on production. “There is no question any more now that tho war is one of making jobs in the backyard for anybody,” he declared.

Questioned on the likelihood of the further stoppage of jobs following the announcement that the Paeroa-Pokeno railway construction was to cease, Mr. Semple replied that it was not proposed to stop the South Island Main Trunk railway construction. It might be necessary, he said, to slow up on it but not to stop it unless something very serious happens. “The line is nearing completion and we are up to schedule which fixes the finish in 1941, and it would bo a pity and a waste to stop at this stage. Maybe we will have to steady up the work, but its stoppage has not been considered.”

The Haast Pass Road, on which there is another three yeais' work, was inspected by the Minister this week. He was asked if this highway construction would be stopped. ‘‘ I promised the men on that job that tho future was in the lap of the gods,” he replied.

“I told them that I could not give them any promise either way and that a continuance of the work depended on circumstances. However, we arc already working On a short staff on that highway which will connect Otago with South Westland.”