WAYS OF AIDING BRITAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 2

WAYS OF AIDING BRITAIN

SUGGESTIONS BY MR DOIDGE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP [United Press Association) FEILDING, 2nd December. “The Empire is in the gravest peril. Yet the attitude of the people of New Zealand is, for the most part, one of deadly complacency.” said Mr F. Doidgc. M.P., addressing a public meeting at Rongotea to-night. “Lack of inspirational leadership is possibly one reason,” continued Mr Doidge. “More than a year has passed since the war began. A handful of valiant men has gone overseas. But the sum total of our war effort to date has been negligible. Tn the last war we sent more than 100,000 men overseas. Our population then was only a million. To-day it should not be beyond our resources to send 200,000 if required. “Our leaders wring their hands and talk about difficulties. Of course there are difficulties. But there are many ways of helping Britain, in addition to sending armed forces. Britain’s greatest need is for engineers, mechanics, skilled artisans. Munition work and aeroplane factories call out for craftsmen. The man who can use a lathe is of more importance at this moment than the man who can use a gun. In New Zealand our railway workshops and our foundries are crowded with mechanics who would gladly go to Britain’s aid. “Similarly, at Home, there is a cry for help in the coal mines. We ail know what privations Britain went through during a bitter winter last year. Herculean efforts are being made to avoid a repetition cf that experience this winter. The miners are working 10 hours a day six ~nd seven days a week. Why not send a contingent of coal-miners Home to help in the Battle of Britain? “Yet again, recent London news indicates that the dockers are cracking under the strain of working 10 hours a day seven days a week. Their output is said to have fallen from 160 tons a gang a day to 12° tons. The Thames waterside workers are feeling the physical strain. We could replace them with men from New Zealand. “And if it be said we cannot spare these men from industry in New Zealand. the answer is simple. Let us offer to exchange our skilled workers, untired and eager, for the weary, warworn workers of Britain. The English ifHisan. coming in exchange to New Zealand, would quickly recuperate on the voyage out. and a job on which he would be asked to work only eight hours a day. for five days a week, would be a heaven-sent respite for him. “These things could be done.” concluded the opeaker. “They would be done if our leaders aroused a surge of national energy and national sacrifice, such as that which has ennobled the people of Britain.”