NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY

THE WAR CALL

ANOTHER PIEA FOR REDUCED

REINFORCEMENTS

DEBATE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE DOMINION'S PLEDGED DUTY A suggestion that New Zealand should reduce tho roinforcemont drafts and should refrain from mobilising the Second Division was plaoed before the Legislative Council yesterday by tho Hon. 'J. D. Onnond. An informal debate followed, the speeohes indicatin" that tho .majority of tho members of the Council wore opposed to any slackening in tho Dominion's efforts. The Hon. J. D. Onnond said that he had not been able to be present during the Address-in-Koply debate, .and he felt it his duty now to make a statement that he would have made earlier if ho had not been prevented \>y illness. Ho did not believe that New Zealand should continue sending reinforcements to the tront at tho' present rate. Britain had recognised the necessity of retaining men for industries, and Now Zealand ought to retain enough men to maintain production and also to extend production by breaking 1n the waste lands of the . JJonnnion. If the exports declined tho financial position would become serious. I'he producers could not go short of labour and reduce their output without lessening their capacity for bearing taxation. • The Second Division. Mr. Orniond said that great public feeling had been, excited by the prospect of the conscription of the married men. Many of these men were earning «E5 or J!G a. week, and were able to maintain their wives and families in a reasonable state of comfort. Those men were being required to leave their families in very poor circumstances. Sir Francis Bell: Is not that another question? Wo can deal with that point. Jliv Ormond: The questions arc related. Tho mobilisation of the married men did not appear to be either desirable or necessary. It did not meet with the approval x of the people, who .believed thai the reinforcements should be slackened ofl until the other colonies had overtaken New Zealand in their contributions to the army. New Zealand had been asked to provide more men proportionately than any other Dominion.

Sir Francis Bell: I deny that we have been, asked.

Mr. Onnond: We have done it. Sir Francis Bell: That is a different question.

Mr. Ormond: We have done it, and the people are not satisfied that it should go on. -Ho had been greatly pleased to read tho statement of one of the leaders of the National Government that the question of reinforcements must bo ieconsidered. Hβ Ijelieved that feeling was simmering in the country. lie thought that public feeliDg would lead to the abandonment of tho proposal to tend away men who were essential for tho conduct of affairs in this country. The present policy in connection with reinforcements was an unwise one, and to a. certain extent it was bound to be reconsidered. He had nothing to say against tho enlistment of single men for reinforcements, but ho considered it undesirable and unnecessary to conscript the Second Division.

The National Government. He proceeded to accuse, tho National Government of suffering from "inanition." Tho Ministers were, not eutitled to say they had no money for essential public works, such as the reading of back country and the erection of schools.

Sir Francis Bell: Where is the money to come from ?

Mr. Ormoutl: "I do not know. It is the duty of the Government to provide money for these essential purposes." Hβ' believed that an early general election was needed, in order that the country might have a Government responsible to the people, and an Opposition" to correct inefficiency. He 'referred to the ability of the United States Id supply huge armies, and said correspondence ho had received from the Old Country had convinced him that the Imperial authorities did not expect New Zealand to wreck her industries. It might be said that he was speaking solely for-New Zealand. That was not the case. Ho was speaking for.the whole Empire. He felt that tho Dominion would be servin? Imperial interests by maintaining its primary industries, He had occupied many positions in - New Zealand, and he would not have felt now that he had done bis duty if be had failed to speak his mind. He hoped the Government would decide to keep the married men back, and employ them in the essential work oi' the country.' "Absolutely Unjustifiable." The Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones supported the previous speaker's argument..' The question had to Ire studied from ». broad Imperial standpoint. The future must not be endangered by taking short views. He agreed that the Second Division men should not be taken. To compel these men to enter the forces under existing conditions would be absolutely unjustifiable. He believed the period of the'war would exceed five years. He proceeded to vefer to the military capacity of the coloured races of the Empire. India had supplied 350,000 men. but if the Indian contribution had been as large in proportion as that of New Zealand it would have amounted to 20,000,000. Sir William Hall-Jones said that if the married men had to fight there should be no exemptions. Socalled questions of public interest must stand aside in an issue of life and death. But he did not believe it was necessary to maintain the present rate of reinforcement. The entrance of the United States into the war was a new factor sinco the New Zealand Government made its promise, whatever it was, regarding reinforcements. He agreed that a general election was needed, and proceeded to refer to the financial position of the country. A Matter of Financs. The Government had plenty of money, said the speaker. The surplus last year had amounted to X 2,000,000; There ■would be a similar surplus in the current year, making a total surplus of ,£4.000.000. Sir Francis Bell (laughing): Where has the money gone? Sir William Hall-Tones: I am ashamed to put the facts in Hansard. The money ■was lent in London at 5 per cent., whilb wo were Iwrrowing from the Old Country at a lower rate of interest, one of the meanest things done by this country. Wo have this surplus of jid.ooo,ooo in hand. The heavy taxation of 1915 was absolutely unnecessary. I know what 1 am talking about. Sir Francis Bell: I think you are absolutely wrong, and that you do not know what you are talking about. Sir B William Hall-Jones: I don't think tho honourable pontlemiin has thought as mnch as I have. Sir Francis Bell: But I know more about it. ~i,i , -\t Sir William Hall-Jones added that New Zealand could not be drained of men. The interests of tho Empire demanded that the reinforcements question should be reviewed. Carry On. The Hon. W. Earnshaw said he disa«reed with tho previous (speakers, who seemed to be taking a narrow and pessimistic view of the situation. New Zealand had done a great deal, but certainly had not dono as much proportionately as tho United Kingdom. Tho fact tlinfc workers had been withdrawn from the front by the Imperial Government did not mean that there was a surplus of soldiers. Pressure of dire necessity had forced Britain to expand industries and increase production while at the same time keeping vast armies and fleets in being. Every man was needed. The Empire could not lean upon the United

Stales. New Zealand's contribution lo the Army had not reached, or nearly reached, tha limit. He regretted that the Government had not faced the question of mobilising the whole country in order to put every man and woman in the right place nnd reduce to a minimum the dislocation of industry. But he sympathised with the difficulties of the Government. New Zealand must carry oil, and must remember that tho war was a white man's war. Tho white raco must not aek the coloured races to gain the victory. The married men would have to fight, and Parliament would have to see that tho allowances and pensions wero raised to adequate figures. Mr. Earnshav argued that the proper organisation of the people of New Zealand for essential work would enablo tho Government to provide the necessary reinforcements and at the same time produce all that the available ships could carry. Every person should be given definite work for the nation, and the motto, "Business and pleasure as usual," should bo abandoned. At present New Zealand was taking things oasy. Its people were not averaging eight hours a day work. Yet Prance was gasping and asked urgently for aid. If Now Zealand bent their backs to the task they could provide 30,000 or 40,000 additional/men without dislocating their own essential industries. Was New Zealand to quit just when the tide of war was turning? Air. Earnshaw added that tho National Government was more earnest about sending men to the front than it was about commandeering tho wealth required for way needs; it was more careful of vested interests than of tho interests of the people affected by th rising cost of living. ' No Desertion. The Hon. J. llarr said the Hon. J. DOriiiomL Had mado a wonderfully able speech, But did tho men who asked lor tne cessation of reinforcements realise what Uieir proposal meant? It meant the absolute desertion of the men already at. tbts front. (Hear, hear.) Mr. liaiT pointed to the enormous work undertaken b> Britain in tho production of. munitions lor herself and her Allies, r.cil emphasised that the withdrawal of skilled workers from tho hghting line was simply part of a scheme of organisation. .Soldiers wero urgently needed, nnd so wero munitions. Tho mobilisation of Second Division men in r»e\v Zealand would not prevent the production of such foodstuffs as Britain needed, and was prepared to ship. There were many Hundreds of retired farmers who could return to work, and ivho should be conscripted for work if necessary. "We have no right to say that because America has come in we' '»ill desert," said Mr. Barr. "This is cur 'scrap.' We cannot say to some other people, white or coloured, 'Take our place, because we have not the heart to go on.'" He contended that the married men were not entitled io take shelter behind their families. Many single men had left loved ones and made sacrifices.

The Jion. J. MacGregor opposed the reduction of reinforcements. Hβ Raid that exports could be maintained even if production declined, owing to the fact that enormous quantities of foodstuffs had accumulated. Australia, also, had huge accumulations. It was evident that the end of the war was not near, and be did not believe that the Second Division men wanted New Zealand to quit.

A SPIRITED REPLY NEW ZEALAND'S PLEDGED DUTY. Sir Francis Bell said it was apparent the Hon. J. D. Ormond wished lo protect tlie industries of the !Uoiuiuiou. That issue had nothing to do with tho stage, oi the buliov. Was it to bs said that the single man was bound to fight lor his country while the married man was exempt? Was the sacrifice made by tho wife who sent her husband to the front so mucli greater than tho sacrifice of; the mother who sent her son? Ho would like the members of the Council, and the people of.New Zealand, to remember the terms of tho pledges that had been given not merely by r iho Gnv. ernment, but by Parliament and the nation. On August 5, 1915, Parliament had assured tho King in a cablegram that Come good or ill, New Zealand, in company with tho other Dominions and dependencies of the Crown, is prepared to make any' sacrifices to " maintain her heritage and her birthright. . On tho first anniversary of tho outbreak of war, and again on the svcojid anniversary, tho Parliament of New Zealand and tho people of New Zealand hau placed on record their "inflexible determination" to seo tho war through to a victorious conclusion. "Any sacrifices" and "inflexible determination" had been the words of the pledge. The point Jiau now arrived where New Zealand's cunvenienco was touched, and already it appeared as though the determination was becoming flexible. What had been Happening in Wellington that day. Crowds of motor-cars, complaints about lack' of facilities for reaching the races, a snturnalia of enjoyment—and Parliament was asked'to believe that New Zealand could not spare any more men. No interference with picture shows or races or publichouses—but a slackening of tho boasted determination to sec the war through. \ Not Craven. If our solemn obligations are lo be 'thrown to the wimlr if tlie Government is to break the nation's pledge," s;ud Sir Francis, "then let someone else be tlie man, and the men, to break the word of New Zealand. Tiiat is not a table for a man born in New Zealand, pioud of Ne-w Zealand, happy in what lias been done. I don't believe-that we have become craven. I will not Believe it until the country has declared itself craven. New Zealand was the first to enter upon German soil when our men took Stmoa. We huve tha,t to our credit. Shall we Zo fife first to quit and have that to our Tasting dishonour? 'Tne third anniversary of the outerealt of war is approaching. Shall we say nga'n that our determination is inflexible, or shall be say that it is flexible, that the time has come to Lend, and that we have, had enough? I fniiilc there is not much Tear of that. i. believe in New Zealand. . . . How can tlie entry ot America into the war make any difference to New Zealand? It is our soil that we are defending. Is it to be said of Englishmen that they will not fight their own battles? Are we to set up a rampart of Americans to protect us? The joining of America in the fight will make the end come sooner, but we cannot fay that the end 'must come without us,because the Americans are there. This claim that we have reached the stage where we should cease to reinforce our division is nothing but base and ignoble surrender. Wo will maintain nir forces to tho end, come Americans, come Russians, come any other nation, whatever may be the sacrifice short of the l»caking point. The Time for Sacrifice. "I do not believe there is the smallest ground for the suggestion that this country will be brought to ruin by the enlistment of more of its men. It may bo brought to privation. It certainly should bo brought to privation of many of the comforts and pleasures and luxuries we are enjoying to-day. I believe that day will come. I do not believe that the people of New Zealand are helpless to organise as England has organised, use the women and the boys, the maimed, aged and unfit, to take the places of the fighting men. Wβ have not organised yet. There will bo plenty of men left ii\ Now Zealand. The privation that will come will not bo a great misfortune. ,

"This is our war. It; is a. white man's war. The time has come to show that we meant what we said when ive pledged ourselves to see the war through. The call to heavy sacrifice is coming to ns. We have to show now that wo are as the upright man, 'determined to carry out thnt to which he lias eot Uis hand, not moved by any clamour of the crowd desiring base and mean surrender, not afraid in the instant presence of the tyrant; his word has, Ik'cu given.' T hope that will be the maxim of everv mnn and every ivnman in New Zealand. Wo cannot r(iiit."

Klil-KEELO mciiDfl sujp death (o fliee. cockroaches, bug"), Ileus, mosquitoes, house moths, chicken lice, garden pests. Mid many other insects. Perfectly harmless to children and pets. Used throughout the Dominion. Packed by Britishers. Used extensively by our boyi at the Front. Obtainable at all Chemists and Grocers. Price Is.—Advt.