Much Explanation Needed Before Referendum

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1949, Page 3

Much Explanation Needed Before Referendum

The Uovernment wiil have to elarify the term "national serviee" before it holds a referendum on the question. Mr. 'Praser and his Cabinet may know what it implies, but inquiries rnade today show that most people have only a hazy idea. Pifteen men and 15 women, seleeted at random from' passers-by, were asked what they understood by the term. The defmitions given were as varied as they were unilluminating.

Pive women and one man confessed that they had no idea what it meant Others who made a guess said the term was new to them. They had not read about Mr. Praser 's appeal to the Labour conference. Pive persons said "national serviee" meant a re-introduction of the territorial system. Most of those interviewed agreed that the term implied some sort of military training. Pour women and three men mentoned direction of labour. Almost everyone used the word "they" without specifying whose responsibility it was to introduce a system of "national serviee." Here is a selection of views: — Women. "I suppose they want us all to fall in and work together. " "They will take the girls out of offices aud j>ut them iuto hospitals and nursing homes. We would have no choiee of where we want to work, and I, for oue, would not put up witk that." As an after thought, this offi.ee girl said she supposed it would be the same for the men, too. "I don't believe in anything conipulsory. They just want to hold a gun at your head. Military training would be a good idea"for some of the men around Auckland," ' ' It means getting all the young men ready for the next war, I suppose. But what it means exaetly I don't know. Does Mr. Praser?" "They wouidn't conseript women in peaee-time. They would't dare. " "Compulsory national serviee? I suppose that means helping the nation! "I've never really thought about it, 1've been so busy. " "It would mean putting men in the arniy and conscripting labour into industries of national importance. People in secondary industries miglit have to be put to work in important industries where there was a shortage of labour. " Men. "It would mean being called oq to do military -training so inany niglits a weelc or at week-ends, or being order ed ijito camp for a few weeks every year. Now, hang on — -compulsory national serviee. Oh well, that means being taken out of your job and being manpowered into another. That's no good." "It's not a bad thing in the circuinstances. I suppose it would hurt somie people,"1 ' ' They ne,ed ah. army of about. 10 0,4 000'ineh; Glve them about six weeks! •training > ,a yeapidnd then: tte'll be readyj" ' "I can't imagine we would adopt the ContinentaP system of taking young men for a year or so. Just a few weeks in camp every year." "As well as serviee in the armed forces it could mean some control of industry and direction of labour." "The term means being prepared for anything and having interim defence services in case of aggression. " "1^ suppose they are just going to call for volunteers so that some men will be trained before war breaks out." "It means Socialism. They are going to take away our businesses and tell the workers: You can't do it your way, you must do it our way. "