Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1940 CANADA SHOWS THE WAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 4 December 1940, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1940 CANADA SHOWS THE WAY

OUU ITJ 11IL. uni CANADA, greatest and senior of the British Dominions, is setting a wonderful example in the way she is throwing the full weight of her great resources into the war effort. Because of her proximity to the great manufacturing centres of the United States on the one hand, and her relative nearness to Britain on the other, she is well situated for the supply of munitions and also of trained personnel for the armed forces. On the other hand the enemy cannot get to the sources of her supply. She has shouldered the main burden of the Empire training scheme, which is already producing good results, while she has been the base from which American planes and destroyers have reached the theatres of war. Not only that, but her own contribution in men, money and materials goes orj increasing. Her great mineral deposits, vast agricultural resources, improving manufacturing technique,

I and, most important of all, the spirit ' of the people enable her to make an ! effort equal to that of a first-class | power. The Canadians have certainly taki cn a realistic view of what an “alli in” effort entails. There is little division of domestic opinion in that Dominion about where the path of duty lies and she is prepared to make sacrifices to perform it. The latest example of such sacrifice is to be found in the Canadian Emergency Budget, which imposes drastic taxes on luxuries. The budget is also notable for the generous concessions it makes to British export trade by removing customs duties on important imports from the United Kingdom. This course will not swell Canada’s customs revenue but it will give a fillip to British export trade, which must be kept up if Britain is to continue to provide the sinews of war. Another sign that Canada knows what is in front of us all is the warning of her Prime Minister that Germany, with her forces, machines and materials largely intact, presents what he termed an menace.” “It is going to take all we can do and give to beat them,” he added. These are not the words of a defeatist but of a responsible statesman who gives a just appraisal of the task confronting the democracies. But what is so refreshing about Canada’s attitude is that it does not stop at fine phrases. The Canadians are ready to sacrifice their own living standards to beat Hitler and Nazism, and they are realists enough to know that victory cannot come without it. Speaking in Parliament the other day the Canadian Minister of Labour made some observations about working hours which many New Zealanders who realise what an “all-in” effort means would like to hear from their own Minister of Labour. Mr McLarty said that a lengthening of the working week from 44 to 48 hours or even longer must be considered, since industrial production had reached a point at which a general labour shortage was approaching. With the distressing news of the havoc wrought in English towns ringing in their ears, he added, and with the British Minister of Shipping admitting that sinkings exceed replacements, it was no time to think of maintaining standards. Their only excuse for asking for a temporary relinquishment of Labour’s standards was that they must win the war, and a sacrifice was unavoidable. Mr McLarty added that some unions had already agreed voluntarily to work a 48-hour week. This- attitude towards hours of labour in a great emergency is in marked contrast with the attitude of New Zealand, which is face to face with /the same emergency. In some aspects of the war effort New Zealand has done, and is doing remarkably well. For that the Government and the people deserve great credit. But so far the Government cannot bring itself to ask the nation to work longer in order to produce more. No one would think of asking that in normal times, when the worker is entitled as of right to increased leisure as one of the fruits of a machine age. But times are far from normal. Leaders of the Government have said so many times, but while asking for every ounce of effort to help win the the war, they refuse to encourage or permit temporary relaxation of rigid awards and agreements (except in a few isolated cases) which would allow that effort to be made. Why? Do they feel they would be betraying the sections of the community who put them in power? This is not likely to be the attitude of the majority of the workers. Some sections, including those to whom our Minister of Labour is constantly taking off his hat, are not playing the game, even under their awards, but most workers, with the rest of the community, would sooner follow the example of Canada and work with a will to win the war, without talking so much. What they need is a resolute lead.