National Service.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16892, 8 February 1917, Page 5

National Service.

THE SCHEME LAUNCHED.

BRITAIN MRSHALLING HER FORCES. %

PREPARING BIG BLOW FOR GERMANY.

* Received 8.45 p.m., Feb. 7. LONDON, Feb. 7

Mr. Lloyd George addressed a public meeting at WestminsW to inaugurate kir Neville Chamberlain^ national service scheme. Many M.P.'s, London Mayors, and prominent citizens were present, including represontatiyes cf the leading employers and trade unions.

Mr Arthur Henderson, who presided, said we needed to make a swift answer to Germany's latest challenge. Military exigencies and national honour rendered it imperative that drafts .tor the troops abroad should be supplied with unfailing regularity. Sir Neville Chamberlain said the amiy must be supplied with drafts of young, physically fit: men, who alone could stand the terrific strain of modern trench warfare. His problem was to find substitutes, who would prevent the essential industries of the country languishing. liad arranged a schedne with the bishops, whereby the work of the clergy might be utilised for other work. Doc. tors must be mobilised and distributed amongst the \ civil population. Men alreauy engaged in work of national importa-nce would be asked to enrol, as they might be wanted for similar work in other parts ofthe country. It was proposed to utilise local authorities and employment exchanges for the enrolment, control and distribution of labour. A minimum wage of 255. weekly would be established; this included agriculture. The question was—Where conic, the labour.J>e found? We could not i suddenly destrdy non-essentiul trades. SucK destruction would interfere with <mr credit. The least essentrial trades must fall first. "Germany » said uu- Neville, "means to starve is out before she herself is starved. National service will deal the enemy a straight blow between the eyes, and bring him'to his senses."- ~ -«*r. Lloyd George said Britain had sent fewer men to th,e army and navy, m proportion to population,, than any of the Western Powers.; France had' provided one in six. We w«remot shirking our contribution. We were making a larger contribution in other respects. Ifae Navy meant an enormous drainon our man-power. If the present voluntary system failed, the nation mukt nave recourse to,. compulsion. "The community," he continued, "is entitled to the utmost and the best help of every member who "participates in its Me. If we fail to get the necessary staff by voluntary means,: the Government will be guilty of the grossest derehction of duty if it does not resort to legislation. The submarine campaign is Germany's set policy. It has been', thought out for years, and taught in their schools. We must build ships to protect our merchantmen, in order to demonstrate that,murder on the high seas is futile. We can do it, but the nation -must be organised."

Mr. Iwloyd % George concluded: Our patriotism must*not be less than Germany's. Our country is eqmally worth, fighting for. it has been a rich land in the past and is so at present. What riches the future holds depends on the people of today. (Cheers). No man who shares this inheritance' has a right.to pass on its defence to his neighbour.

Mr. Chamberlain said the scheme provides for/a subsistence allowance of 2/6 per day for volunteers out of ! a work,grant of 3/6 daily for four weeks.. The rate of pay for national volunteers is the rate for their job. 'It-might be higher or lower than the one they have been accustomed. Mr. Chamberlain added that each must take his luck, as the soldiers Hid. v was impossible to indicate at present the lines on which national industries would proceed. There would certainly be some restrictions in the less .essential occupations, but the1 sL^ring of machinery plants and labour should enable trades to maintain prosperity after the ( war.