"DELIVER THE GOODS"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2442, 22 April 1915, Page 5

"DELIVER THE GOODS"

APPEAL TO THE WORKERS

OF BRITAIN

GREAT. SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH

(Kec. April 21, 8.30 p.m.)

London, April 21. The Prime Minister (Mr. .Asquith) addressed a meeting of 5000 munitionmakuro at the Palace Theatre, Newcastle, last evening. He had au enthusiastic reception. Mr. Asquith said that he desired to speak through them to tho workmen of tiie whole of the north-east coast. In no area of Mie British Empire —not even iu Inlanders or in France —were our national fortunes more intimately bound up with tho energies and patriotism of those who were now called upon to render their best services at the seat of war. There was not the least ground for apology or panic. Wo were now in the ninth month of the most momentous war in the world's history, and material and forces had been arrayed to an unexampled extent. Vast as theso were, they wero not disproportionate to the moral issues involved.

No man, continued Mr. Asquith, wa6 worthy of tho name'of Britisher who wan not taking his part, and there were very fow houses that had not spontaneously contributed thoir best manhood to the Army and Navy. "Wo have obtained tho finest and largest body of men that has ever followed the colours, and this spirit of 6elf-sacrifice has enabled us to make our casualties good. This same spirit is required of othor important departments of war. This is a war not only of men, but of material. Tho miller, shipbuilder, engineer, iron and textile worker, railwayman, and docker is called o.u to niiiintaiu the supply of munitions, without compulsion, though, if necessary, compulsion will bo resorted to."

The Government, he added, wished to avoid compulsion, but tliero must bo some mutuality of sacrifice between the masters and the men, and the taxpayers, Ho was not there to iinputo remissness. Ho did not believe that tboro had been any. The Army and Navy hud never- entered a campaign better maintained or equipped. There Was not a word of truth in the statement which had been published that our work was being crippled for tlio lack of ammunition. If it were true it would discourage the Allies, and encourage their eitemies. It was not true that the Government had only lately been alive to the urgent importance of tlicso matters when it appointed Lord Kitchener's Munitions Committee. It was not true that there had been a general slackness on the part of employers and workmen. The situation was due to the unprecedented scale on which, ammunition had been expended by both sides, and the shortage of skilled labour, tho multiplication of tho plant machinery, and the success of the recruiting. "Foreseeing this war's world-shaking iwssibilities, the Government did its utmost to prevent an outbreak, and to narrow its dimensions. When it became certain that wo were confronted with the insensate ambition, and the mature, and calculated designs of a Power which set the public law of Europe at defiance, and menaced the free development of all that is hopeful and progressive in its constituent States, this country realised'the magnitude and gravity of tho part which the people of our islands and . of the Empire were called upon to play;.;-There are 110 signs in any quarter ' of the King's Dominions of the flagging of the national spirit. The demand' for men and material is so vast that it_ might be said that the whole nation is partaking iu the war." Mr. Asquith said that in ..tho coal trade 217,000 miners had enlisted. This was a splendid record. Thorp, was an influx of seventy thousand "men from other trades who liad steppe'd 'into the gap, but the diminution of tlio'coal output amounted to twelve per cent, of tho normal, while the demand, due to the war, had risen above ilie normal, and lie urged the utmost eliort on the part of the remaining miners. He said that their services-would be as fruitful to the country as if they were in tho trenches.. Sacrifices were called for from employer, worker, and taxpayer alike. He believed that all were willing to contribute to the burden imposed by the war. The sacrifices were the limitation of profits, the temporary suspension of restrictive rules, and the provision of _ reasonable compensation in cases of injury or loss.

"As to profit," saicj the Prime Minister, "all aro agreed tliat those supplying the munitions should not bo entitled to undue profits," Tho trado unions might le sure that they were not prejudicing their interests by temporarily waiving or suspending tlieir rules. He wanted to make it clear that any firms suffering by the of labour, or inability to carry out civil contracts, should receive nronrot and adequate compensation. Tho first deficiency to be made good was tliat of skilled labour in the war munition factories; next, to' utilise the works devoted to other purposes for the manufacture of munitions. He reminded them of their promise that master and man deliver tho goods. That was all tl|e Government asked. Those! remaining at home, and supplying tho country's needs, might show that their heroism was as patriotic as those who were hazarding their lives in tho firing line.