REARMAMENT IN BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1938, Page 8

REARMAMENT IN BRITAIN

MANY PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING SERVICES

Manifestation of Public Spirit Welcomed by Minister HOPES OF DOING WITHOUT COMPULSION (British Official Wireless.) <Recd This Day, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, April 5. Sir Thomas Inskip (Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence) speaking in London, said he was receiving large numbers of letters from people of all classes offering whatever services they could render their country. This, said Sir Thomas Inskip, was a remarkable manifestation of public spirit which he hoped the country could use. Referring to his talks with the representatives of employers and labour, Sir Thomas said: “I am sufficient of an optimist to believe that goodwill and co-operation will triumph over all difficulties and that we shall find supplies of labour , adequate for the programme which the Government has in mind.”

Referring to the White Paper on the demands likely to be made on industry, Sir Thomas Inskip said: "The intention at the time was not to interfere more than was necessary with civil industry, but events during the last few days have made it necessary— —l hope only for a time—that the Government programme should have priority.” An examination of tha figures of labour available in the engineering industry, he added, showed a surplus of ten thousand skilled and semi-skilled men. Concluding, Sir Thomas Inskip said he was sure the people of Britain had made up their minds that democracy should not be found wanting, and it would be much mor e impressive to the world at large if the programme could be completed, as he expected, without resorting to compulsion, than if an Act of Parliament were passed dragooning people in the way they should go.