IS IT CONSCRIPTION?

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20513, 1 June 1938, Page 5

IS IT CONSCRIPTION?

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE POLICY LABOUR LEADER’S REQUEST REFUSED PREMIER SAYS THE POSITION WILL BE CLEARED UP (Official Wireless) (Received June 1, 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 31 Arising out of Sir Thomas Inskip’s conscription speech last night Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, refused the request of Mr C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, to publish a White Paper setting out the measures contemplated for wartime service. Mr Chamberlain said the plans would be presented to Parliament if and when the occasion arose. He denied that Sir Thomas Inskip had stated that a Conscription Act was in existence. Captain W. Wedgwood-Benn quoted Hansard. Mr Chamberlain said the position would be cleared up later if the opportunity arose.

MINISTER’S ADDRESS DUTY FOR EACH PERSON LABOUR MEMBERS ALARMED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, May 31 Labour members were alarmed when In the House of Commons Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, said that in the event of war there was certain to be a competent authority to allocate a suitable position to each Individual; nobody could escape his duty by choosing an attractive position in peace time, for instance, the territorials or air raid wardens. Mr J. C. Ede (Labour-South Shields) interpreted thjs as meaning that legislative machinery had already been devised for conscription. Other Labour members demanded to know if the plans included the conscription of labour and wealth. Sir Thomas Inskip emphasised that the plans were subject to submission

to the House at the proper time. Labour members contended that the plans should be produced. Demand for Discussion The House immediately demanded an opportunity for a full discussion, but the debate automatically ended at 11.30 p.m. Sir Thomas Inskip, in a broadcast, said: “Joint plans have been prepared for the Navy and Air Force for every emergency, and providing complete trade protection. “Some of our greatest scientists are helping in the task of air defence. Some of the latest discoveries are already coming into use, and an enemy may expect, to encounter some formidable and perhaps unexpected forms of defence. Exaggerated Surprise The political correspondent of the Australian Associated Press states that conscription will be submitted to Parliament- for instant introduction immediately a war occurs—this is the actual meaning of Sir Thomas Inskip’s statement in the House of Commons, the suddenness and unexpectedness of which, occurring in a minor debate when only 50 members were in the Chamber, caused exaggerated surprise, stimulated by Labour members’ attempts to seek political capital. Apart from the circumstances in which it was made, the statement contained nothing new. It did not go beyond Mr Chamberlain’s earlier declarations, nor does it alter the Government’s unequivocal assurances that conscription will not be introduced In peace time. FRENCH AIR MISSION A VISIT TO ENGLAND j (Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 30 I The members of the French Air I Mission arrived in England to-day to | view the Royal Air Force establisht ments at the invitation of the Government. { They will call on the Secretary cf I State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood," toi day.

THE ARMS INDUSTRY APPEAL BY MR CHAMBERLAIN ATTITUDE OF THE UNION'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER (Official Wireless) (Received June 1, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May 31 The Amalgamated Engineering Union, one of the largest unions concerned from the workers’ side in the amis industry discussed at a conference at Morecombe an appeal addressed to the two sides in the industry by Mr Neville Chamberlain and Sir Thomas Inskip that they should cooperate to facilitate an acceleration of production. The conference rejected a motion refusing under any condition to pledge the union’s support of the Government’s arms programme. The conference later passed a resolution approving the action of the executive in the negotiations to date with Sir Thomas Inskip and the employers, and underlining the importance of a close scrutiny of any demand for the weakening of union safeguards—such as the dilution of skilled labour, which the resolution declared to be unnecessary. THE AIR FORCE THE GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME LORD NUFFIELD'S ASSISTANCE LAND FOR A FACTORY (Official Wireless) (Received June 1, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May 31 At a meeting of the Birmingham City Council an application on behalf of Lord Nuffield, supported by the Air Ministry, to purchase 130 acres of land at Tyburn, Birmingham, for the purpose of a factory for the manufacture of military aircraft, was considered. There was an overwhelming majority in favour of selling the land to Morris Motors, Ltd., and the council undertook to support a formal resolution to that effect in due course. The decision will facilitate the urgent preparations of Lord Nuffield to implement the undertaking he has given the Air Secretary to assist in production under the Government’s air expansion programme.

BIG BATTLESHIPS THE BRITISH PROGRAMME SILENCE OF THE JAPANESE United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 1, 12 noon) LONDON, May 31 The Australian Associated Press understands that during the past six weeks Britain repeatedly sought a gesture from Tokio that the Japanese will not e'xceed the 33,000-ton battleship limit. However, the Japanese have not given the slightest clue regarding their intentions, consequently the Supplementary Estimates tabled in the House of Commons to-day includes two capital ships, whose tonnage will exceed 33.000, with sixteen-inch guns. It is expected that three similar ships will lie laid down later, to enable the completion of a squadron. In addition five 35,000-ton ships, with fourteen-inch guns, are already under construction.