HON. LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1919, Page 2

HON. LLOYD GEORGE.

APPEAL TO THE NATION

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) | AUSTRALIAN A, N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

LONDON, Oct. 17. , Mr Lloyd George speaking at Sheffield said he “appealed to the nation to settle * down to work iti earnest and increase , national production.” ' The national’ debt, prior to the war, was 645 millions. I To-day it was nearly 8000 millions. The I nation had to bear a heavier burden than ever before. The labouring classes, he asserted, had higher wages and shorter hours, and a. better standard of living than ever before. Yet he ad-, mitted they dreaded a return to the old pre-war conditions. There was he said, only one mode of their escaping from , such a return. “Just increase the national income,” he said, ‘‘by increasing | the national production.” That was the urgent need of the day in the country and in every other country. Mr Lloyd George added that the perpetuation of the spirit of war was fatal to industry. The worst was over and he could now see symptoms even in the most desperate areas of a coming peace. They must also have peace at home, to secure production, and must have everybody working with goodwill. To secure goodwill, there would he fairly remuneration and labour must feel confident that it will share in the reward of prosperity, and feel it is a real partner in the business. 'Referring to Germany, he said it was not the British habit to hurry, nag, insult and trample down a beaten foe, who had acknowledged defeat. As long as Germany confirmed to the conditions of th peace terms, they must give the enemy a fair chance to lead a decent life and prepare for an able and honourable existence. This was to the interest of the whole world, not merely Germany. He urged the imperative need of a good understanding between capital and labour, towards which he said, the Government could do but little. He emphasised the necessity of a greater industrial use of machinery and also of electricity. Mr Lloyd George contended thero was an equal necessity for exercising economy and for increasing production. The test question on which his Government would stand or fall was, whether, viewing matters broadly, the Government •could do more to save the temporary expenditure which was marking the tran•sition from war to peace, but without imperilling the country’s great and more permanent interests. Ho said their permanent expenditure must now remain far higher than before the war. This would be owing to increased interest on mgney, amortization and pay, which had all increased for all forms of State service. He declared the bread subsidy given by the State must soon disappear. The delay in signing peace with Turkey he said, was attributable to the fact that it was unknown whether America was going to take it over and thus share the burdens of civilisation, outside the United States. He was rather pleased he said, that Americans were brought " face to face with this question, because some Americans used to accuse the grabbing British Empire of getting pieces of land at every available opportunity. He thought that Americans now realised that Britain was undertaking a great civilising duty at great cost to herself. It was a task Providence sent to her and which she was discharging in various parts of the world. He begged men of their kith and kin in America to join in that task. Otherwise, he did not know what was going to

•happen to parts of the Turkish Empire. Neither Britain nor France, he said, could undertake it. All the peo-! pie who had been living in the shad- 1 ow of the great tyranny for centuries were appealing to America to come and help and protect them. He hoped the appeal would not he in vain. The British were undertaking similar responsibility themselves and were finding they were approaching the limit of their strength, and that it would be j unwise for them to go any further. It would be the height of unwisdom for the British to disarm until the Turkish problem was settled. It was vital to the British Empire and also to the world, ho said, that it should bo settled by the 31st of December. Ninety-eight per cent of the conscripted soldiers had been returned to their homes, and by the time the Conscription Act expired there would not be a single conscript who had not returned homeward.

Alluding to the present criticisin' of the Government, Mr Lloyd George quoted a roadway notice: “Please slacken the reins when ascending the hill.’ He wished they would treat the Ministers as they treated horses. When the Government was going up a hill, there were men pulling, prodding and tightening. Let them slacken the reins. The burden was heavy and the road steep. They needed all the muscle, brain and inspiration available from fellowmen, and from Above to enable them to keep up and carry weight

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