The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1918. THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1918. THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

The supreme need of tlie Empire is more fighting men, and tlie supply of that need is a duty that can neither be ignored nor postponed. It is time to recognise that an immediate and universal effort must be made to systematically reorganise our working power in order to defeat the enemy, for though capital be disorganised, employers surrender their profits, and workers lose their most precious and bitterly-won industrial rights and privileges, the Empire must stand and win against a savage enemy that would sweep everything into chaos. We liave arrived at the supreme crisis in the Empire's history and it rests with the people whether they will go under or prevail. Much has been said and written about the duty of sacrifice, but the true test is now to be applied, for a fitting response to the most urgent call that lias ever been made on the Empire will involve grave alterations in administrative policy, and possibly become a danger as far as the internal interests of the Dominion are concerned. 'The matter is not one for academical or street corner discussion; it is a national necessity that must be

met no matter what the consequences may be. Tlio supreme need of the Empire is more fighting men and everything else must lie made subordinate to it—every man and woman must do his or her utmost lo further the response. Canada has already followed the Motherlaud's example and abolished the existing tribunals and exemption machinery, besides empowering the Government to divide the men into classes and utilise them for overseas purposes or home tasks, according to their ages and qualifications, and it is proposed to call up all men over nineteen, utilising them in the civil tasks for which they are most fitted. There are thousands of men in the Dominion enjoying immunity from national service, and many of these make no secret of their satisfaction in having escaped, but their period of rejoicing should now become very brief, and a drastic combing out should be applied that will result in overcoming the Empire's crisis. Inevitably there will be hardships, but what are they compared with the conditions that would exist if Germany becomes the dominant power V The seven thousand occupational exemptions of First Division men should be reviewed without a, moment's delay, without fear or favor—not fish made of one and flesh of another. Here are two cases in point. In a statement made in the House, Sir Jas. Allen said that tlio case of Laidlaw was one of three brothers, two of whom had lost their lives at the front and Laidlaw was exempted on that ground. In another cp.se, before a board, Second-Lieutenant J. H. Dines, a voluntary recruit, applied for total exemption. His brother had been killed in France; he had seen two years' sei vice and now wished to remain with his father, a farmer, who was not in good health, he being the remaining son, but the board turned'" down the request. In another case two officers in the Public Trust Office, both of whom, it is said, were transferred to that office from other departments within twelve months, were granted exemptions. Why? Surely not because they were absolutely essential after so short a term of service. As one writer puts it* How many musterers, shearers, slaughtermen, clerks shipping experts and hardship cases are there in the 7000 occupational exemptions? Ordinary death makes 110 difference in essential industry and business, but the withdrawal of an essential young man for military Bervice is gravely deemed to be disastrous. Apparently the Dominion Government lias at last been aroused to a sense of its duty. Will it make good and at once institute a reorganisation of the working power of the Dominion? For the credit of the Dominion and the safety of the Empire it is to ibe hoped the answer may be in the affirmative, but Cabinet will have to adopt far different measures to the tinkering that has characterised the past. The monthly drafts are to 'be increased by 1700 infantrymen, besides a quota for the new lank Battalion. The situation demands a n immediate and drastic review of all exemptions, and it is not too much to claim that New Zealand should follow Canada's example in abolishing the exemption tribunals, thus making service cicfcuttlly universal and securing that equality of sacrifice which is imperative. Unfortunately that fatal tendency to proceed along the line of least resistance is still evident, and as a result the Minister places his hands upon the Second Division B Glass wherefrom to obtain the required men, instead of at once drastically reviewing the 1 exemptions. What is needed is a scheme of National Service on equitable lines. Labor need not bo alarmed. It is the duty of Labor to help the State in securing the most advantageous system of national service in the face of a disaster that must be averted at all cost, just as it is the duty of women throughout the Empire to replace men in normally essential occupations. Nothing but whole hearted determination and united effort will suffice to win through, and though the ordeal may and doubtless will be severe, the final triumph will be worthy of the supreme effort.