APPEAL TO LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 17492, 22 April 1915, Page 5

APPEAL TO LABOUR

j ivna. ASQUITH'S STIRRING ADDRESS ' BRILLIANT SPEECH AT NEWCASTLE HEROES THAT STAY AT HOME (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON. April 20. Mr Asquith addressed r.uoo munition makers in tin- Palace Theatre, .Newcastle, and met with an enthusiastic reception. He said that lie desired to speak through them to the workmen of the whole North-Fast Coast. in no area of the British Umpire and not oven in ■ Flanders or France wore our national fortunes more intimately bound up with energies and patriotism of those who were now called upon to render their best services. But there was not tiie lea-o. ground for apology or panic. We were now in the ninth month of a war tiie most momentous ; n the world's history. consuming material forces to an unexampled extent. Hut vast as they were, they ter; not disproportionate to tin- moral issues involved. Foreseeing that this would be a war of world-shaking possibilities, the Government did its utmost first to prevent, its outbreak, and then to narrow its dimensions. When we were certain that wo were confronted by the insensate ambition and the mature and calculated designs of a Power which set the public law of Kurope at defiance, and menaced tiie free development of all tiiat was hopeCul and progressive in its constituent states, this country realised the magnitude and gravity of the part which the people of our island empire were called upon to play. There were no signs in any quarter of the King’s dominions of a flagging national spirit. The demand for men and material was so vast that it might be said the whole nation was taking part in tile war. in tho coal trade 2 17,000 MINERS HAD ENLISTED, which was a splendid record. Tins caused the influx of 70.000 men from other trades, who stepped into the gap, but tiie diminution in the coal output amounted to twelve per cent, of normal, while Uio demand due to (lie war had risen above normal. H was urgent that there should he tiie utmost effort on the part of the remaining miners and their services would be as fruitful to the country as if they were in the trenches. •Sacrifices were called for from employer. worker, and taxpayer alike, and tie believed that all were willing to contribute to tiie burden of war. These .sacrifices were tiie limitation of profits, tiie temporary suspension of restrictive rules, and the provision for reasonable competition in cases of injury or loss, t Received April 21, <.20 p.m.t Mr Asquith, continuing, said tiiat there was no man worthy of tiie name of Britisher who was not taking part, and 1 here were few houses which had not spontaneously contributed their host manhood to tiie army or navy. We hud obtained the finest, body of men that ever followed the colours and tins spirit of self-sacrifice enabled ns to make our casualties good, but the same spirit v\ as required in' other important departments of war. This war was not only of men, but of material. Tin- miner, the shipbuilder. the engineer, tiie iron or textile worker, (lie railway men. and Hie dockworker were called on to maintain the supplv of munitions without eompulsion, though. if necessary, compulsion would lie resorted to. Tin- Government wished to avoid eompulsion, but there must bo MUTUALITY OF SACRIFICE between masters, men, and taxpayers. But he was not there to impute reinisncss. He did not believe that any army m . mivy over entered into a campaign better maintained or equipped. There was not a word of truth in tiie statement published that our work was being crippled by lack of ammunition. If true it would discourage our allies and encourage our enemies, but it was not. true that the Government was only lately alive to tiie urgency and importance of these matters, and tiiat had led to the appointment of Lord Ixitehener s committee. It was also untrue tiiat there had been a general slackness on tiie part of employers or workmen. The situation was due to tiie unprecedented scale on which ammunition was expended by boUi sides, the shortage of skilled labour, the multiplications of plant and machinery, and tiie success of recruiting. (Received April 21, 5.30 p.m.) As to the profit all were agreed tiiat those supplying munitions should nut be entitled to undue profit. Trade unions ui*ht be sure that they were not pre-

judicins their interests by temporarily waiving or suspending certain rules. lie wanted to make it clear that linns suffering by tiie transfer of labour or inability to carry out civil contracts would receive prompt and adequate compensation. The first deficiency to bo made good was that of skilled labour in munition factories. Tho next to utilise works devoted to other purposes for the manufacture of munitions. Ifo reminded them of their promise that musters and men would deliver the goods, and that was all ihe Government asked. Those remaining at home supplying the country’s needs might show heroism as patriotic as those hazarding their lives in the firing line.