THE CONSCRIPTION OF LABOUR.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 April 1918, Page 4

THE CONSCRIPTION OF LABOUR.

In reply to telegrams from various parts of New Zealand fair Joseph >vard , lias sent the following reply: ‘'l think you are mistaken, in the conclusion you have arrived at regarding a clause in the Finance Bill, and I would suggest that you wait until you see the discussion fully reported in 'Hansard’ upon it. The clause is one intended for organisation of all classes, not 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 ip regard to utilisation of nonessential businesses and' industries owing to possible further prolongation of th,e 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 House of Parliament, will be drawn up after a conference with 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 co-operation in active sympathy of organisation that may bo found necessary to ensure the preservation of the country.’’’ If, as Sir Joseph Ward contends, Hansard report will prove, the labour clause in the includes employer as well as employed, and that the law is not to bo administered to the disadvantage of one or the other, then he is contradicted by more than one reform speaker. What did Mr. Luke understand when he said it was absolutely necessary to have power to transfer men from one factory to another and one foundry to another? Those who thought otherwise were no true friends to their country. Dr. Newman did not view the Labour Clause as Sir Joseph now explains it, or he could not very well have animadverted on it the way he did. However, ,th.s whole country will be glad to have ,the Minister’s explanation, but, there, still remains the dangers bf hitherto unprecedented powers left in, the. hands of a New Zealand administration _