The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1917. BURNING QUESTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1917. BURNING QUESTIONS.

At Thursday's meeting of the Taranaki executive of the Farmers' 'Union, a letter was received from Mr. H. D. Vavasour, of Blenheim, urging that in his opinion "unless drastic steps were taken the production of the Dominion, through dearth of farm labon, would fall away in the ensuing year in a far greater measure than last year, and. that the remedy was for the Government not to enlist any more men from the agricultural and ! pastoral community, and to return to the land all such men now inj camp." The executive could not see its way to support these views on account of there 'being, in its opinion, a greater need for men than for produce. Supposing that Mr. Vavasour's contention were adopted by the Government, what would happen? Simply that those of the unexempted industries would refuse to serve. To that some will answer, "But they would be compelled to. They would be under military law." Military law, however, like civil law, can only be maintained by having the support of the people as a whole, and the public would never tolerate the exemption from military service of one-half the people, because they are engaged in primary production. .The time is coming, if it has not already come, when the exemptions of those engaged in what hitherto have been regarded as essential industries, must be reconsidered. Butchers and shearers, the :io:i:nd>. of the country), coal miners and sailors, are regarded as "essentials," but really are they any more so than the producers of cheese and meat? It is questionable. Surely if men are regarded as of more value than .produce these men could be temporarily replaced by non-eligibles. There are hundreds of old miners who, if put to it, could keep the coal mines going for a year or two; similarly, the places of sailors and engineers could be taken temporarily by unfit military men; whilst, as for shearers, and butchers, surely there could be found men and lads able to fill the breach whilst the necessity for men existed. It all goes back to the one cause—national organisation and conscription of all labor for .the period of the war. If it is right to conscript men to fight, it is equally right to conscript others to serve at home. The Government had no compunction about conscripting men to fight, but it has shied all along at doing its obvious duty in the other direction, just as it has in connection with all the other problems caused by the war. The fact cannot be gainsaid that if we are to continue our reinforcements at the required rate, every section of the community must be prepared to bear its share, otherwise there can be no equality of sacrifice. But the time has come when the Government should take the public more into'its confidence and say definitely what its intentions are in respect to maintaining the reinforcements, and what its obligations are in this respect. Are we committed to sending 2500 men a month till the country is exhausted of fit men? Canada, Sir Robert Borden has stated, pledged herself to sending half a million men, of which 400,000 have enlisted and compulsion is- now being sought to obtain the other 100,000, though the cables tell us there are yet 760,000 fit single men who have not, responded to the call. Canada's population is between seven and eight million. Ten per cent, other population would, therefore, 'be between 700,000 and 800,000 men. But Canada takes up the position that she can do better for the cause by keeping up production and manufacturing munitions, ships, etc., than by sending more than 600,000 men. Mr. Massey, whilst at Belfast, said that if New Zealand contributed 100,000 men it would be a fair proportion. But Sir James Allen, speaking subsequently at Dunedin, said that no Ministerial encouragement had been given, to the prevalent idea that 100,000 w»» to be the Dominion's con-

hibution. Up till now between 80,000 and 30,000 have either left New "Zealand or are in camp. Another 15,000 and we have reached the ton per cent, mark, as against Canada's, say, seven and a half. Australia has sent 3W,W9 men, and taking it that the number will be increased to 400,000 by the end of the year, she will have sent a little over eight per cent. We are told by- Sir James Allen that we have no right to make these comparisons, and should do our duty regardless of what our neighbors are doing or are not doing. Surely, however, these facts should be considered by the people to enable them to judge as to the future policy of tho country in denuding the country of all its fit men, as will be the case if reinforcements are maintained at their present level throughout next year. As the Christchurch Sun has pertinently put it: "The question is: Can we better serve the Imperial requirements by stripping the country of the best of its remaining manhood at the present, rate than by reducing our reinforcements and concentrating on producing wool, meat, and cheese?" If, however, Parliament, after hearing the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward, on their return, still need foremen is a paramount, necessity, that the production of foodstuffs .can be substantially reduced or suspended, then let the Government tackle the organisation of the country's resources in men and see that those who go away are properly treated and their dependents adequately .provided for, instead of being, as now, left to the tender mercy of officials and a 'beggarly Government, and also that no exemptions of men in any department of activity be made whilst men with 1 serious domestic responsibilities are called upon to enter the fighting lists. So far the go-slow Government has shown a decided disinclination to organise labor or attempt to solve any of the other problems confronting the country. But it has done one thing—it has prolonged its own life by extending Parliament, otherwise the country would won have an opportunity of sending every Cabinet member about his business and substituting another Ministry more alive to the interests and necessities of the Dominion.