LABOUR AND THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 February 1918, Page 5

LABOUR AND THE WAR.

alarming statement by LEADER, J

GREAT CRISIS THREATENED

LONDON, February 2,

Mr Henderson has issued a statement in the Press urging the Government withdraw its refusal to separately meet the representatives of the Society of Engineers, also appealing to the workers not to embarrass "the Labour leaders or jeopardise the unity of the international movement. He declares that democratic diplomacy has begun, and expresses the opinion that the alleged Labour Conference, which is to meet in London on February 20th will achieve an agreement by all Allied working class parties upon a . policy to secure a democratic peace, j Such a peace, he says, will come when the Governments are resolutely told that peace must be made at once on such terms and no other. Mr Henderson adds that he has information in his possession which shows that the industrial situation is graver and more pregnant with disastrous possibilities than at any period of the war. A crisis of the first magnitude is threatened The workmen ’s temper is dangerous. The Government’s unyielding attitude is bringing the country to the verge of industrial revolution. He appeals to workmen to realise the gravity of the step of threatening to strike. Unless, the Government declares an armistice to negotiate, the action of the working classes of the Central Powers may precipitate a ersis. The arrangements wo arc making for concentrated action b'y international democracy in the direction of general peace is rapidly approaching completion. THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY. LONDON, February 2. The Press Bureau says: The official reply to Z\lr. Henderson controverts the contention that the Government admitted the engineers’ claim to separate treatment. The statement concludes: It is necessary to realise that this is not a difference between the Government and one or more . unions but between the unions themselves. It is well known that other unions rei sented the Governments previous sen-

arfite ‘ mooting with the Amalgamated Engineers. The Government

now

agrees to meet the Amalgamated En

gincers separately If the other unions agree. No question of procedure must obscure the man-power issucq In order

to maintain the armies in the field, fit men must be withdrawn. The dilution of munitions factories alone as insufficient to provide the necessary number.