FIGHT FOR LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1940, Page 5

FIGHT FOR LIFE

PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS COMPULSION IN MILITARY AND CIVIL SERVICE. DEMANDS OF ABNORMAL SITUATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Provision will be made for the compulsory system right away and the question as to when it will be applied will depend on the conditions in regard to the forces, the number at present volunteering and the number that will be available during the next few months,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser in reply to an interjection when moving the second reading of the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last night. The interjector was Mr Polson (Opposition, Stratford) who asked: “Does it mean that it will not end the voluntary system so long as it supplies the men?” , “The country feels that the voluntary system, even if completely successful, does not apply fairly and embody the spirit of service that the occasion demands,” Mr Fraser continued. “That is felt by some of us who are strong anti-conscriptionists normally, because it is for the life of the country that we are fighting.” (Cries of “Hear, hear,” from both sides of the House). Mr Fraser said he was not going to reflect in any way on those who had conscientious objections to killing but he said that it was the duty of everyone to do what he could in the circumstances, and the Bill provided for that. It was quite impossible to carry on efficiently without compulsion. The big majority of the men on the waterfront, for example, were men of good intent, though there were a few who were mischief-makers, Mr Fraser said. The Government must tell these men to get out of the way. Otherwise the country’s efforts would be frustrated.

“The Government must have power to say in all instances that we are not going to allow the working conditions we are proud of in normal circumstances to hamper the national effort,” he continued. “The response from the responsible leaders of the trade unions of the country is very fine at the moment. At the same time they ask and have a right to ask that nobody makes a farthing of profit out of the sacrifices they are asked to make.” (Cries of "Hear, hear.”) “At present it is difficult to have any patience with people who talk about hours and wages, profits, dividends and anything of the kind,” Mr Fraser added.

Opposition voices: “We all agree with that.” Government voices: .“Since when?” Mr Fraser: Yes, and I think the country does, too. Whatever the debates of the past may have been about conscription or volunteering the day has gone by for that. It is only of academic interest, and is no longer a question in face of the growing menace that confronts the British Commonwealth. I believe the House will unanimously agree with the measure. Mr Fraser said that any Government administering the Bill had a big and grave responsibility. The Opposition might claim that only a national Government should do so. He did not grudge the Opposition the potency of the argument, but the Government was in office with a very large majority, and as long as it was there it was its duty to come to the House and tell the House what it required to make the war effort as full as possible.