THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1940 SERVICE FOR VICTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23574, 7 February 1940, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1940 SERVICE FOR VICTORY

Hoav far New Zealand falls short of the maximum war'effort is exemplified almost daily by news of the extraordinary exertions being made ill other belligerent countries. Apart from those who have enlisted, New Zealanders have not departed from their easy-going ways. That is not for lack of will but chiefly because little or no sacrifice and service has been asked of them. This slackness when all should be taut is mainly due to the Government's failure to mobilise productive power for the business of maintaining and even increasing the output of essential goods and services. Land and capital have each their part to play in this effort, but the return of each depends on labour, the third and vital element in production. The most can be got out of the country's natural resources and elaborate capital equipment only by the most efficient use of the available labour power. This central fact was. from the outset recognised and acted on in Britain and France, and in N c y.i Germany too. By agreement with the trades unions, the Allied Governments have released industry from the restraint of peace-time industrial rules and achieved an all-round acceleration and increase in production. Thus the news records this morning the grant of full co-opera- | tion by the powerful Amalgamated Engineering Union to the British Government's new drive for a record arms output. British workers have soberly accepted the necessity to resist aggression and tyranny, and the further necessity that they must enlist on the home front to support those in the forces. Within reasonable limits they have become industrial soldiers for the duration of the war, complying with national demands for discipline and exertion on the model of the soldier on active service. In France the same spirit animates the workers. They realise they are engaged in a life-and-death struggle.

; Nothing comparable can be dis- . cerned in New Zealand. Labour has , not been asked to contribute to the | war effort. A Government that dotes ! on planning has produced no plan | for mobilising man-power to the best | advantage, has proposed nothing in the sphere with which it is most familiar. More and more of . the ► young and most vigorous workers ■ are falling out of the ranks of industry to fall in with the forces, but no organised attempt is being made to replace them. No call is being made for substitute labour or on those who are left to compensate by working harder themselves. Both these methods are being used in Britain' and France to keep the wheels revolving in the absence on military service of millions of young shoulders.. Skilled labour is being diluted by unskilled that would otherwise be unemployed. Corresponding to the soldier and sailor dug-outs, older men and women are being re-admitted to industry, often as underrate workers. Millions of women are lending a hand on farms, in factories and transport. These organised replacements go a long way toward keeping output at the peak. In addition the regular workers are facilitating production by labouring for longer hours, forgoing penal overtime rates, and reducing peacetime insistence on limiting rules governing employment and working conditions. French trades unionists have set a particularly fine example in these ways. In defence of their beloved country and of their democratic freedom, they have even assented to the suspension of the cherished 40-hour week. If New Zealand is to maintain her labour force in face of recruiting, if she is to keep up production and standards of living, she must plan a system of labour replacements and her workers—as a special war contribution —accept some increase in their hours and allow more elasticity in conditions. So far the Government has not put any such proposition to labour although Ministers must realise the inescapable logic of the case. Perhaps the Government doubts the response of the workers. If that is so, then it should listen to the robust declaration at the recent meeting of Westfield slaughtermen : "If some men are taken, the others will put their shoulders to the wheel and carry on the work." Special emphasis has been placed on the labour factor because it is the master key to maximum war effort. But service and sacrifice should be demanded and forthcoming from all sections of the community. Land and capital have a big part to play and, given the labour, will be expected to organise resources and plant efficiently and in the directions leading to victory. No compromise should be admitted on this requirement and no concession made to profiteering. If the working man is expected to be patriotic enough not to exploit the demands for extra service in higher wages, then the farmer and trader should not expect to harvest higher profits from war exigencies. Neither one nor the other should seek advantage in a cause for which young men are offering their lives. And if an active effort is rightly demanded of the agents of production—land, labour and capital—passive acts of sacrifice are expected of everyone. The receipt of income tax demands this week afford a 7*eminder that the payment of war taxation helps furnish the sinews of war. New Zealanders should also expect to forgo many peace-time satisfactions. An example offers itself in the petrol restrictions. Supplies of oil are thus conserved for the forces and credits to munition and provision them. Civilian savings if mobilised will increase military power, and hasten the victory and the peace. It is certain that the vast majority of the people realise the necessity for service and sacrifice in these various ways and would be ready to do their bit, given a clear and definite lead by the Government.,