The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1915. MORE WORKERS WANTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1915. MORE WORKERS WANTED.

"It is a problem, not of destroying, hut of saving the lives of young men." Such were the words of Mr. Lloyd George wheu addressing the Trades Union Congress last week, and pleading for 200,000 more unskilled men and women to work the sixteen arsenals already established and the eleven others in course of construction. It was a real heart-to-heart talk t.hst took place on this occasion, the Minister placing the needs of the country vividly before the delegates, and contrasting the attitude of the workers in Britain with tho-;e in Germany. The natuie of the enormous task which Mi'. Lie;.<l George has undertaken was clearly indicated by him when he said, "If. every skilled man is employed there will still never be enough labor for the task I have in hand.'' Taking the pledge of the Congress to assist the Government in tii" prosecution of the war as a binding one he told the delegates plainly what was necessary to carry out that ! pledge, pointing out that without the co operation of the workers the Government could not equip the army. He therefore asked for the suspension of all restrictions upon the best use of skilled labor hv employing unskilled men wherever possible under skilled supervision; the suspension of the practice of pieventing men turning out as nuieh work as their skill and strength permitted, and that there should In: no stoppages in essential trades. The force of his appeal was enhanced by his description of what the German had accomplished by working quietly and persistently, without stint and strife, through autumn, winter and spring, thus enabling the German forces to drive back the Russians with a terrible avalanche of shot and shell. It was not, he said, the German generals who had won the victories over the Russians, but it was the German workers. The war has resolved itself into a conflict of mechanics and the Minister was quite right when lie said that the British workman was better than the Austro-Cerman if he chose to put his back into it. To make the difference between victory and defeat there must be a largely increased output of munitions—3o per cent, in some places and 100 per cent, in others—and for that purpose eighty thousand more skilled men are required in addition to the 200,000 unskilled men and women. Mr. Lolyd George handled his subject in masterly fashion, and with an enriiestuess

befitting the serious nature of the problem. If the workers have heretofore failed to realise the gravity of the onus which the war hag laid upon them there can now 'he no excuse for their Ignorance. They fully recognise the importance of the war issues to democracies; they are willing to co-operate in recruiting, though the majority resent the adoption of conscription. The Minister practically laid on the workers the responsibility for victory or defeat. The future will disclose whether they elect to be patriots or traitors, for on them devolves the output of an adequate supply of munitions, without which Britain and her Allies must be overpowered l>y the superior equipment of the enemy. It is inconceivable that the British workers will do aught else hut their manifest duty, and it is hoped that there will be no further necessity for the Minister of Munitions to urge on the men the imperative need for working in grim earnest in order to save valuable lives and securing that victory which they and all of us so earnestly desire.