WHAT IS NATIONAL SERVICE?

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13815, 20 July 1918, Page 2

WHAT IS NATIONAL SERVICE?

LABOURITES' QUERY. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. * "What does the Government mean by. national service?" was the question put. by the deputation of Labour njyu that interviewed members of the Government. The member* oi' the deputation had a good deal to say in opposition to industrial conscription, which they said would be opposed by the Lai)our movement throughout New Zealand. They charged the Government with attempting to coerce the workers instead of inviting their co-operation. The workers had not been consulted in any way regarding the national service proposals, although the farmers had been allowed to take a big part in framing proposals that affected them. . The National Government, added the I • deputation,. bad failed altogether. to seek the co-operation of Labour in the way the Imperial Government had done, and the workers would be entitled to resist industrial conscription. Sir James Allen reminded the deputation that when the National Government was formed the Labour members of Parliament were invited to have a representative in the Cabinet. The Government had always l>een anxious to have the advice and assistance of Labour. \ The national service, proposy ed in the Finance Act of this year was not industrial conscription. It was a recognition of the sound principle that in time of war every person in the community should be required to perforin useful work. The scheme was intended to apply to every section of the cßmmunity and to land, buildings and plant as well as to persons. It provided the means for the scientific organisation of industry, and this organisation might become absolutely essential as a war measure. But there had never been any proposal to arrange a national service scheme without consulting the workers. The Prime Minister had stated exjjfcitly in the House of when national service regulations had been framed under the powers provided by the Act, ,-they would be submitted to conferences of the interests concerned, including the workers and the employers. A member of the deputation: That has not been done. Sir James Allen: It has not been done because there are as yet no regulations. The National Service scheme has not yet taken definite form and the Government has no proposals to place before a conference. AVe have been thinking about the matter and talking aTout it. but we have not I evolved a scheme of national service. When a scheme is prepared there will be full opportunity for discussion by those interested. | w, .The Ministeivsaid it was true that. the national service provisions had been used in connection with the employment of Jugo-Slavs, but that did not raise the general question of national service. The Jugo-Slavs were enemy aliens and there had been demands from Ihe worker as well as frnm other sections of the community that these men should be employed in the service P of the State during tbe war. The Acting-Prime Minister added an appeal for a better understanding between workers and employers. He said that trouble was being caused all the time by mutual suspicions, and it surely ought to be possible for the two parties in the industrial field to get closer together.