INDUSTRIAL SERVICE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 8 September 1917, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL SERVICE.

MUST BE VOLUNTARY.

PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS,

WELLINGTON, September 0. Reference to compulsory industrial service was made by the Prime Minister in the Ilousejjf Representatives this evening. The 'enohuous figures provided for in the Finance Bill, a - nd mentioned in.the Financial Statement, Mr Massev said, must, have brought home, to every member of the House., and every member of the community the extreme, seriousness of the, position, fortunately for us we had been able to keep up our products, though there had been a shortage of shipping. Judging 'bv the outlook, and especially if the | war were to continue for any length of time, and if we were going to meet our liabilities in this connection, we must keep up our exports to not less than the thirty'millions sterling for last year. We had , had compulsory. militarv service, and .it had worked well, but compulsory industrial' service would not work well. Industrial service must be voluntary. The country required all the enterprise and industry of the people to keep its industries, going. ,He did not suggest that we , could do'the Gallic as in England, but lie thought it, might be quite likely that during the coming season, if we were to have'a. good harvest—'anil, lie-be-lieved jwe would—we. would liuvo- to call upon the women of the country for their assistance. "And I think we can rely on'their, assistance,'' he said,'' and ! tM they will help us to the best of i their'ability."",. 1 '