NATIONAL SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL SERVICE

ORGANISATIONS PLANS IN BRITAIN. SPEECH BY SIR J. SIMON. The need of organisation of citizens for defence was emphasised by Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech at the Cutler’s Feast at Sheffield on October 13, says the “Daily Telegraph and Morning Post.” Referring to the nation’s preparations during the recent crisis, he said: “It is just as well that we have 'had to try them out under actual conditions of crisis. It is still more to the good that it was only a trial, for there is much to improve. We are now given an opportunity of correcting errors and filling omissions. “At the same time, do not let us miniimise the forethought and the thoroughness of the arrangements that were made. There is no comparison' between our unpreparedness In 1914 and all the efforts that have been put in behind the scenes now. Now, if ever we had to, face this dread necessity, the climax would come at the beginning and we must be sure that we can withstand the initial assault.

“I would like to say a word on the orderly use of our man power. An experience that has deeply impressed me and other Ministers of the Crown in recent weeks has been the dozens of letters pouring in by almost every post from correspondents expressing their keen desire to serve the State, and asking for help to decide what they should do.

“Every one of us knows in private life how difficult it is to deal with the man who wants a job and says he is prepared to do anything. It is true that many calls for service had already been made, and had evoked a fine response.

"I am not entering the controversy between volunteering and compulsion, though I would observe in passing that is not the same thing as organisation. But how much more valuable these voluntary offers of help would have been if in each case the choice and allotment of essential national work had been made beforehand.

"If the willing citizen of a fortflight ago had known beforehand where he was wanted he would have been able to render to his country an infinitely greater service. “If he had had his allotted task, if he had trained for it, if he had learned to know his colleagues, and if he knew from whom he should take orders, the efficiency of those volunteers would be multiplied one hundredfold. “There is a widespread realisation that the organisation of man power is a very complicated task—more complex than it used to be when so large a portion of the male population crowded to the recruiting stations. "We must not wait for this organisation until the crisis recurs. In whatever may be the most appropriate form we must do it now.”

Earlier in his speech Sir John Simon said: "Now we have a breathing space, a period in which we can survey our arrangements in the light of experience during the emergency. The Government has at once entered upon a vigorous. complete, remorseless, urgent survey of the whole position.” Speaking of his own department, finance, Sir John said that the urgent need for economy in all permissible directions was never more obvious.