CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20992, 20 December 1939, Page 8

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

MINISTER UNDER FIRE TALK OF REFERENDUM REGIMENTATION MENTIONED (Special ;o Times) AUCKLAND, Wednesday The raising of the issue ,of conscription during an address by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, at the Trades Hall last night resulted in exchanges between the Minister and a small section of his audience, which comprised representatives of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee and the Auckland Trades Council. A questioner asked the Minister whether the Government would take a referendum on the question of conscription if the appeal for volunteers for the second echelon of the Special Force failed. “ Great Britain can live without us and we cannot live without her,” the Minister began. Voices: Come on, answer the question. No hedging. The Minister: If there is going to be conscription, there is going to be conscription of wealth. It will mean that you and I will be on the soldier’s ration and the soldier’s pay. And if it is going to be that, it will be the greatest step forward to collective Socialism, because when it is over the psychology will have been established. Referendum Question “ If there are not enough volunteers for the next echelon and we have to take strong measures, it will be 100 per cent,” the Minister added. “ Everyone will be in it. There will be one common rule and regimentation, and the greatest opponents to it will be the capitalists and the Communists.” A Voice: What I want to know is this: Are we going to have a referendum before conscription? The Minister: We have been elected. The referendum was taken at the last election. Voices: No. Not on conscription. Mr Langstone: It would be a matter governed by circumstances. We stand pledged to support the programme that has been laid down. A Voice: Will you take a referendum or won’t you? The Minister referred to the importance of winning the war, and mentioned the term “ Communist.” This brought cries of “ You’re as bad as Semple,” and “ listen to the abuse ” from one or two of his most persistent questioners. A brief lull was put to advantage by the chairman, Mr J. Sayegh, who promptly called for a vote of thanks to the Minister. This was carried, with one or two dissentients. RECRUITING METHODS

HON. W. E. BARNARD’S VIEWS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) NAPIER, Wednesday The Hon. W. E. Barnard, inter? viewed to-day regarding the reported statement made last night in Auckland by the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, said that if conscription were necessary, which he did not admit, the question should be decided by a referendum of the people. The sepaker considered that all the necessary men could be obtained by volunteer methods if the right means were used. An almost casual appeal through the press or an odd talk over the air would not do. “Use,” said Mr Barnard, “should be made of the returned soldier Members of Parliament, who should be invited to play a leading part in the country’s war effort.” He was opposed to the suggestion that every one might be required to live on a soldier’s pay and rations. The soldiers were fighting for democracy and the maintenance of the present living standard, and it would be no encouragement to them if folks at home were compelled to put up with an inferior standard of life. To increase the soldier’s pay was a better policy than to whittle down the income of the people.