NATIONAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1918, Page 4

NATIONAL SERVICE.

«» (Our Special Correspondent).

Wellington, July 17. "What does the Government mean bj national service?" was the question put by the deputation of labor men that interviewed members of the Govermaerii to-day. The members of the deputation had a good deal to say in opposition U industrial conscription, which they said would be opposed by the labor movement throughout New Zealand. They charge*, the Government with attempting to coerce the workers instead of inviting their co-operation. The workerg had not beer consulted in any way regarding the national service proposals, although th< farmers had been allowed to take a Ki& part in framing proposals that affected them. The National Government, added the deputation, had failed altogether to seek the co-operation of labor in the way the Imperial Government had done, and the wojkers would be entitled'to resist industrial conscription. Sir James Allen reminded the deputation that when the National OPovernment was formed the Labor members of Parliament were invited to have a representative in the Cabinet. The Government had always been anxious to have tho advice and assistance of labor. The national service proposed in the Finance Act of this year was not industrial conscription. It was a recognition of tne sound principle that in time of war every person in the community should be required to perform useful work. The scheme was intended to apply to every section o! the community and to land, building) and plant as well as to persons. It pro vided the means for the scientific organisation of industry, and this organisation might become absolutely essential as a war measure. But there had never been any proposal to arrange a national service scheme without consulting tne workers. The Prune Minister had stated explicitly in the House of Representatives that when national service regulations had been framad under the powers provided by the Act, they would be submitted to conferences of the interests concerned, including the workerg and the employers. A member of the deputation: That has not been done. Sir James Allen-.lt has not been done because there are yet no regulations. The natonial service scheme has not yet taken definite form and the Government has no proposals to place before a, conference. We have been thinking about the matter and talking about it, but we have not evolved a scheme of national service. When & scheme is prepared there will be full opportunity for discussion Ijy those interested. The Minister said it was true that the national service provisions had bean used in connection with the employment of Jugo-Slavs, but that did not raise the general question of national service. Tin .Tugo -Slavs were enemy aliens and titan had been demands from the workers ai well as from other sections of the community that these men .should he employed in the service of the State daring the war. The Acting-Prime Minister added »' appeal for a better understanding «e----tween workers and employers. He call that trouble was being caused all the time by mutual suspicions, tend % sorely ought to ibe possible for tine two putts* in the industrial field to get ebsc? together.