DOMINION'S MAN POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1918, Page 4

DOMINION'S MAN POWER.

NEW REGISTER TO BE

TAKEN

Wellington, April 17

The first practical step to be taken by the Government under the National Service -clause-passed last session is the preparation of a new register of man Jjower. Every man in New- Zealand will be asked® to indicate bis qualifications and what he is prepared to do to assist the Dominion industrially

The Government Statistician will have control of the census.

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

Wellington, April 17

Sir Joseph Ward has replied as follows to telegrams received from Labour Unions in various parts of the country :

“lii reply to your telegram of yesterday, I think you are mistaken in the conclusion you' arrived at regarding th 4 clause in the Finance Bill, and 1 would suggest that you wait until you see the discussion fully reported in “Hjuizard” upon it. The clause is one intended for the organisation of all classed, uot of labour alone, and there is no intention on the part of the Government to utilise labour for private gain. It is impossible for anyone to say what the necessities of the country may require in regard to the utilisation of non-essential businesses and industries owing to the possible further prolongation of the war, and the proposal is as much in the interest of, and necessary for, Labour as for any other class in the country. The regulations which the Bill provides for, and which are to be laid upon the table of the Houses of Parliament, will be drawn up after conference with the, various industries, including those of Labour; and I can only give you my assurance that if there had been any intention to injure Labour, I should have been strongly against the, proposal, as I fully recognise that in the crisis through which this country, together with other parts of the Empire, is passing. it is essential to have the goodwill of the workers and their cooperation in active sympathy with the Government in any system of organisation that may be found necessary to ensure the preservation of the country.”