WAR SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12068, 25 July 1917, Page 4

WAR SERVICE.

SECOND DIVISION AND LABOUR

PROBLEM.

DIFFICULTIES TO BE FACED.

[Fhom Orm Correspondent. 1

WELLINGTON, July 24

Speaking to-night on the question of the organisation work performed by the National Government, the Hon A. L. Herdman touched on tho labour side of tho problem, and expressed dbubt whether the State should take over absolute control of labour.

Mr Veitch: You don't want to organise Labour. You want to organise the idle rich. (Hear, hear.)

Dr Pomare: Idle talk. Mr Herdman: Something might Dedone. I believe in finding out what voluntary labour there is available There is no doubt we shall have to faco a very serious problem when we get to the' Second Division. Mr Payne : Hear. hear. You will bo up against the most serious problem of your life. Mr Herdman went on to say that it the men of the Second Division were really needed then they must undoubtedly be sent to the front, even if the country had to suffer. The time would then come for men to set their heads together and find out how the business of the country was to be done, because to carry on the war it would be neces* sary to have money, and to get money we would need our produce, and to get prod-ace some, kind of labour organisation was essential. He was not, however, prepared to say whether that labour should be voluntary or not. As to those who would embarrass the country in its war organisation he had al* ways held that any man who prevented a soldier from going into camp or to the front was an enemy of the State. (Hear, hear) He had always held that any man guilty of interfering with the carrying on of our manufactures was an enemy of the State, and any man interfering with essential industries \raa an ally of Potsdam and enemy of England, and he had always advocated that such a man should be treated as an enemy. If the country had to he carried on, we. as British people, shotild all discharge our duties, and any interference with the discharge of our duty should be treated as enemy interference-

Mr Payne: There is such a thing as liberty of speech. Mr Herd man : Yes. but where you gf"t speech that stirs Mp strife and will rouse men to interfere with shipping, which is necessary for the good of our soldiers and the protection of Empire, is that liberty of speech? (Cries of " No.") The Minister went on to refer to an organisation which had stirred up industrial trouble, declaring that a very small remnant of that section rioxv was left, and that the people of New Zealand, as a whole, had resolved Co go on fighting to the- bitter end, no ;natter what the cost. " Despite all the tragedy and misery of war," added Mr Herdman, " this country is growing in strength. The muscles of the people are growing stronger, their fihro is growing stronger, and n. hundred years ahead tales ■will be told in memory of the glory and honour of thousands of young; men who fought for the rac 0 and the future, of New Zealand."