The Cambria Daily Leader

SERVICE FOR At L. WAR COUNCIL MtMtSIER AT SWANSEA. Mr. Henderson's Great Speech NEEDS OF THE ARMY AND NATION. The Right Hon. Arthur Henderson, Labour .member oi the Cabinet, made a stirring appeal to the people of Swansea at a great meeting at the Albert Hall on Friday evening in connection with the National Service movement. It was a huge gathering representative of all phases of industry in Swansea and West Wales, and throughout the lucid explana- tion of the scheme by the TiAt hon. ger}tlMl>an there was a Bote of complete optimism in the future of the British cause- M. ileoderson, in the oourse of a fcpeec-h which lasted over an hour, urged the peoplo to an even greater willingness to sacrifice, and emphasised with confi- denctl that the inevitable victory for our arins would be won for ideals as high as h? rejoiced, to think they were imperish- able. ON THE PLATFORM. The gathering was presided over bv the! Mayor (-tld. Divid Pa vies), who was sup- ported by the Ilight^ Hon. Arthur liender. son, Sir Alfred Mond, Bart, M.P. (H.M. fIrst Coll! Illi Esi(,ner of Works), Capt. Edge Atr. T. J. Wil liams, W;' ::U.¡'. John Wowlamls (Xat.jcnal Herriee Commissioner for Wale?), Messrs. Roger Beck, Commander Down, R.X.. Canon the Rer. J. II Watkins Jones, Ben Jones (de12uty mayor), T. Merrells, M. Tutton, w. J. Hillard, David Matthews, Dand Griffiths, Jno. U-wis, Ivor C,-ynie, C(Il. Sinclair, F. J. Parker, G. Ifemaiings, G. Hill, R. Bucfcland." D. Richards, L- Morgan, H. Lang Coatli (tow'P clerk), J. Aeron Thomas, Abraham Thomas Jdeputy commissioner for Swan- sou), J- V""»|?an Edwards, D. M. Glas- brook, II. Edwards. Father T. B. liar- ringt?". J. W, Jon, J.p., Hyam Gold- ring tor). 11. "y osser, J.p? Gwilvm Morgan, jp LlPd. Martin, R.N.H./ H. J. Mar- shall. T- r:, Cook, 1. L. Sails, C. C. Viviaiu 1, bobineon, W. J. Crocker, A. r. Higl>all!» Hl'n Bottomley, F. Rogers, A. Lovelli Capt. Amberton, II. Clement. C. Dawson, Jr; lt'ol)ert,,s. j. C. Davies, George Tudor Davies, W. E. Rees, Ko*eI. T- A^l0\ W.. P. Roderick, S. Abbott, F- E. Tunbridge, T. J. Rees, iHven Harries, J. llevereux, Coun. T. S. (ioelin (Mayor of Aberav on), Moses (town clerk of Aberavon), Capt. Humphrey Jones (Neatb), A. J. Cooze, V, James, i Rogers, W. Squire, Mp-in- waring, T. W. Hughes. Major Perkins, Mrw- niL Harris. T. A. George, Capt. Mor- ripon G. J- Cnrran. J. IT. Hilditch, F. W;u!din?i"i-n, G. E. Dorrell, Wm. Rosser, j D. W iiiiams, LJgar Johns, etc. THE MAYOR. The Mayor said that letters of apology h;td been received from Mr. John Wil- liams. M.l\, Mr. Fmnk Thomas (Cwm- ftliii.). Major Fuller. the Rev. the Hou. AV. Talbot Rice, Capt. tho Rev. II. C. Ma.n(!"r' Messrs. Villiers Meager, Ro. Martin. Major Lewis, Col. Liew. Morgan. Messrs. J. i'. Davics, J. Twomey, and J. Williams, Aid. O. Colwill, Councillor J)aviv' Williams. Messrs. Arthur Eden, •;„ru| C. H. Eden. and the Rev. H. C. Floyd. In introducing Mr, Hemlerion, v,l:o «as received with loud applause, v The Mayor said Mr. Henderson had fliovn himself one of the most gifted and ,.prtainly one of the most patriotic labour leaders in the whole country. (Applause). the War Cabinet of four as a symbol ot the change coming over this country as the result of the war. He thought it a good omen that among the four were two men straight from the people, Mr. Henderson and Mr. Lloyd George. (Applause). This great war had proved a great transforming influ- ence. People were getting closer to- gether all over the land. WHAT SWANSEA HAS DONE. Reviewing Swansea and district's consis- tent patriotism, the Mayor said the town had contributed from £50,000 to £60.000 to war charities, gifts to the Belgians and our own soldiers, a motor ambulance to tlie Fror.ch army, comforts for prisoners, and Cti.100,000 to the Loan, made .up by JjlbftO') contributors. Xrw they were ap- pealing to a wider class. They must realise that this great conflict involved not only the t'xistence of the country, but the cause of liberty and civilisation. It was the duty-of every man and woman to como out and give his little all for King and country. (Applause.) MR. HENDERSON. The Right Hon. Arthur Henderson, who was vociferously cheered, prefaced a rous- in,. and appealing speech by expressing pleasure in accepting the invitation to address the gathering, and viewed with gratification the interest Swansea was taking, and would continue to take in the latest equips.ign organised in the name of the Government. The? had. he proceeded, every reason to he hopeful without being over-confident, and whilst in that posi- tion they had even greater reason to maintain to the very end that determin- ation hy which alone the victory upon which they itad "Set their hearts could bo secured. (Cheers.) Where did they find themselves to-dav after something like 31 months of effort on the part of their enemy, an eftort prepared for over a long ieries of Yf'ars, an effort to subjugate the Whole of Lurope, an effort to dominate the world s life by tlw ideal of force rather than to have the world's life dom- inated by the force of a great ideal? NOT "TEMPERING THE WIND." After 31 niopths of w&r, he said. they saw their greatest enemy determined to jo to any length, and the determination vi-as greater if the effort was required not only against the combatant forces against whom she was engulfed, but if it be a neutral shite that was concerned, and even greater if the neutral state be small instead of large. Had they not witnessed a most striding indication of this position In the differen- tiation in tije application of the- nlb- iparine policy against the United States on the one hand. and a amaH neutral Sta<f!?<'Sweden on the other. -Fro? 'beginning, he emphasised, r! rotd t Ilk, b i nni,,lg, lie ciiilih asi%ed.. ni in avion to be more rrud and more in- hUlilan-if that lor,e pos. "ai"t the #malie?t of peoples, and especially mensur- ing heT treatment by the greatness of her laiiitflry qt-iell. against the limitation of miliary power oq the psrt of the whom opposed. It was 144ilV V'ROFAS tA thev. 4ww it fiom k-iter>^P«ncnt>e tor two and a half vears. wiiy VICTORY IS ESSENTIAL. But ctir that the more y.otrvif"^ tjie con—;«t. V^carQc, tQØ more; in the in- j Be* -c-f?n the interest of tic <Jove>«P- and mere essential rhonid follow the effort I of the Allied cause. (Cheers.) Surely' no more evidence was required than that which Jthey had already had brought to their notice oror and over again with convincing regularity, that if on this occasion the Allied cause suffered anything in the nature of a defeat—and amidst cheers he observed that he was one who could not regard even a drawn game as other than a defeat—cither a defeat or a draw mu-t be a positive menace to the future of the world's Iil)pl-tics. That being 50, was it not essential that they should examine their present position most carefully, and ask themselves whether they were doing all in their power to achieve such a victory as would for ever make the recurrence of such un! experience as they had had in the last 2? years absolutely impossible. They had reached undoubtedly the most crucial point in the history of the war. He wo'?d not say that we were yet within touch of I the climax, but it could not be much longer delayed, and in order that they might be prepared for that climax it was essential that they should examine the position and satisfy thesmelves that just when the climax Wft" to be reached, when the greatest effort bad to be put forward on the field, no- thing should be wanting on their part to contribute their quota, po that that climax could be faced and nased to not only their satisfaction, but to the satisfaction of their Allies. (Cheers), OUR ORGANISERS. Dealing with the building up of their great armies, the right hon. gentleman paid tribute to the magnificent work of Lord Kitchener, and added that Great Britain had got together armies of such wonderful eiaa and standard of efficiency as had never been paralleled in the his tory of the world. He referred to the criticisms upon the allocation of troops on the various t ronts and held that if the British GonrUllHt had not &ent some of: their arms into subsidiary theatres it was I quite possible that the war would haw been lost by the Allies. PMitions had bf?en al-r,4)lt 1)v the sending of British forces into ?onie of those other thf\;¡tn's. He also dealt with the K'f? work of Mr. Lloyd George in the organi- sation of the production of munitions, j and opined that the supply of munition.'? j was never eo satisfactory as it was tû. day. I want to tdl you. in the name of the Government," he said, "that tho last thing they are prepared to do. whether the men and the women may ha\'C' I to bo 6ccuren. either by the voluntary principle or by compulsion, is to allow j either our armies in the field or our supply of munitions to come below what we believe to be an absolutely essential minimum." (Loud cheers. ) i'1('in' the present situation, they had been con- vinced thai there was a shortage in j a military and civil &pn-? which could best be filled hy the organisation of opr- ? MR. HENDERSON AND HIS ST_I .nn ii ii ..in.i JL. ■ .in —1 ? (Photo by Chapman.) a great echeme of universal national ser- vice, and in a cogent and appealing way the right hon. gentleman put before the 1 meeting the necessity for such a scheme. pointing out that the British Army at the preseut time required hundreds of thon-j s<.wds ûf men—the necessary drafts to maintain properly equipped, properly trained armies in the field must be pro- vided with unfailing regularity—and un- less it was to go short in numbers, some of the drafts must he found in the muni- tion establishments from among the younger men. (Cheers.) AN UNTHINKABLE CRIME. That could only he aeeomplished hy the scheme in which connection they had met that evening, by securing such an enrol- ment as would enable them to obtain sub- [ stitutcs who would go into the munition establishments and substitute men who would go into the fighting line. The military interests must be satisfied unless the Government plans were to mis- carry. and it would be a crime against any Government and civilisation if, after all the sacrifices that had been made in the past 21 years, those things would stand I in the way, and would prevent them from winning the victory upon which they had set their hearte. The submarine menace in the last few weeks had, he went on, re- volutionised the position. He would not suggest that they had lost their position upon the scli--hp did not. entertain any such notion—but they had had a sur- prising development of submarine attack, possibly Germany'? last card. It ought to be a satisfaction to us that sho had been compelled to change her position, and he rejoiced to ay--and their member would support him—that the British naval authorities were dealing with it strenuously and effectively. (Cheere). I AGRICULTURE S FAILURE. But they were not going to leave any- thing to chance, for they realised that they must continue the command of the seas upon which everything else depended. not only for themselves and their Allies. but for many of the neutrals. In con- nection with their agricultural position, the submarine menace bad strikingly brought it home to them that the British land system had been anything but satisfactory, and he was prepared to say that not only had there been a failure on the part of those con- cerned to see that the land was cultivated. but in many cases where it had been culti- vated it had been done in such a happy- go-lucky way that they had not been getting out of the land all that might have been obtained. There was not the lea,t doubt that they had to revolutionise their idea of agriculture, which, by the decision arrived at a few days ago had been placed in a position quite unprecedented. Now that the farmer had his guaranteed price, the speaker pointed out, that if he had not the sense to get the best out of th? land, he toped the next step would be thtthe Government took control of the farmer un.d sgw that be rlid it (Cheers.) On behalf of the. Govern- ment. Jfr. H.ender.»i? explained that in obt.,iining the ma$&«s fer national work they wished to avoid the closing dowa of any industrv, but they must w-ciira the transfer of labour, a-nej it e<?ul'l only be Carried out if thero was a willingness all the part of the employers in the lex- n-I tial industries—from tlie standpoint of the war—to make such arrangements by eo-«jy?r«tion and pooling and that sort of thing that part of the labour could i)(- ,spa-rod for the national work. I He mentioned that in the various trades throughout- the country there were 3,352.200 men from which help could be obtained, and while not suggesting that all of tltat number were available he con- sidered that with proper organisation a fairly good percentage could be spared in such a great emergency as the country was passing through, and the sooner some of these men were placed at the disposal of the community the better would it be for all concerned. (Applause.) It might mean hardship and privation, said he, in conclusion, but that sacrifice could not possibly be compared with the willing sac- rifice given by their brothers and sons in the trenches. We can only ask you," he said, amidst cheers, to remember the greatness of the cause for which our sons are fighting, and in which you will be rendering them very effective national support. We are the trustees of humanity; we are the guardians of the world's liberties. This struggle—who! knows it r-my yet be increasingly fj(,;re, but what we need on the part of the home population is a willingness to sacrifice, a full devotion to duty. Our gallant armies in the field are doing well —in my opinion they will continue to do well, and the news of the past few days must have filled everyone with the' greatest encouragement II think the British Army are going to' render more glorious service in the days immediately to hand, and if we are going to give sup- port it nuigt be by a display of courage and determination and by a maintenance of that magnificent unity which has characterised the home population. If this be forthcoming, we are destined to win a glorious peace, not by spurious nego- tiations—I believe that would result in a dishonourable peace—but we will win that peace by victory, and that victory will be won by ideals that are as high as, I re- joice to think, they are imperishable." (Loud cheers.) S!R ALFRED MOND. Sir Alfred Mond moved the following resolution That this public meeting representa- tive of the County Borough of Swansea nnd District, recognising the necessity for the organisation of the labour of the country and thf pressing need for the National Service scheme, pledges it- self collectively and individually to do ^everything possibly to secure the full and satisfactory working of the scheme." It was a pleasure to him, said Sir Alfred, to be present to support his friend and colleague, Mr. Henderson. Mr. Hen- derson, in his eloquent speech, full of energy and practical knowledge, lucid and clear, had placed the scheme before them. There could be no doubt in the future in the minds of any man or woman as to where duty lay, or what their action should be. Mr. Henderson had pointed Ioiit that this was n6t a moment for criti- cism. It was a moment, remarked Sir ?Alfred, to be up and doing. (Cheers.) It was a duty now to go ahead and carry iout the scheme which had been thought out by the collective intelligence of the Government and its advisors. A 1915 SPEECH RECALLED. He had recently been looking at a spe*cli lie made in the House of Commons in September, 1915, said the Boroqgh Member, and ha had then outlined very similar proposals to those which the Gov- ernment had now adopted. He had pointed out then that it was obvious and pi essi ng, that non-esgential industries would- have to be restricted to supply labour for tho more essential iuductries. If that policy had been adopted then we should have made greater progress byto- day. (Applause.) Wo canuot .afford to wait and see or talk any longer, stated the speaker. (Applause). Germany had in. troduced a 8imilal eystem last November as a result of which she had been enabled to put 51) more divisions in the front than she had last year. Therefore, we were already tome five ninths behind Ger- many, and time was pressing. The scheme should meet with the smallest do- lay, therefore he called qpon his hearers ■to fill up the forms and to give all the as- sistance they could to make the scheme a gucoess. As in other matters, said Sir Alfred, Swansea, headed by the Mayor, had done splendidly. The response to the War Lean had been a source of great pride to I ini, and, he was sure, a great satisfaction to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He understood that the Mayor' and the Cor- Ijoration were well advanced with the scheme, aild the town would "upport with great energy the Mayor in the great t¡lflk. (Applause.) IMMOBILITY OF LABOUR. One of the greatest tdillicultie's manu- faettircro had been forced to face during the war was the question of the mobility of labour. Men had joined the Ariay, and gladly allowed themselved to be fient to Mesopotamia. Egypt, Salonika. France, and India but if men were asked to eome from North Wales to South Wales, or to go from one county to anotller to do the work they were used to do. it seemed as though they were being asked to make a great sacrifice. It was an extraordin- ary mentality! Men were unwilling to sever local connections and home ties in order to do national service. It was es- sential that the men should be where the work was, an<l those with brothers in the various theatres of war could surely go to the next coupty to make 6helle to help them to win the war. (Cheers and ap- plause.) SUBSTITUTION. Dealing with substitutes. Sir Alfreo said it was a difficult question. lIe beard criticisms which he con- sidered unreasonable. A substitute could not be as good as tlj<" j pi an substituted, but. that was no reason why employers ^b.ould not employ him. In the industry he v.-as cyounett?d witfo, it wqs held that women could not de the work. (jut with urgent Reeefsity woman j had been introduced They might not of necessity 40 the work W cf&cie«tly; tncra alight have to im employed; but they ^ere .-Joing the work tpsgnificeptiy. The sub- f.titute may hav$bepn # clerk, who never don? the work bfQr. EmploypM ?hnuld try him. teach him to do the work, and in time he would do good work, a?id i, time he wiuld do POOLING OF LABOUR. Referring lo short-time indiisti,ies-- i industries not t,- o r)ri n; full time—he said they could not expect to keey full staffs. It was a waste of material iabour, it greater crime than the waste of food. He urged the employers to get together to co-operate and pool tho labour at theiv disyoisal. ^0 that surplus labour could be used to better advantage. The Department with which lie was now connected was looking after the erection of important munition factories. The difficulty to oh- tain labour to proceed with these factories arid to get theill erected as quickly as I possible was tremendous. They had to be got together from all the ends of the. world, to get the explosives and shell fill- ing factories completed, so that the "iitput neceseary for the great offensive could be supplied. In the weekly reports lie found appeals for more men and in one large works more work would have been done if more women were available; while one manager said: With 500 more women I could ciouhle. my output." It was heart-breaking, said Sir Alfred, in these conditions, to see men wandering about wondering what they could do! Groat, before unheard-of organisers, had written to him asking for jobs at good c, a I a r ics. (Laughter.) But the Govern- ment wanted clerks ready to do the duli routine work, and to do it well! RESTRICTED IMPORTS Referring to the restrictions on import. Sir Alfred was of opinion that it was an important decision, come to to save ton- nage. Swansea knew all about this ques- tion. No town had suffered to much from the absence of tonnage as Swansea. It was a wise course taken to economise ehipf; for vital supplies. This restriction carried with it a ne-c8ity for home pro- dudiûn-iron ore, timber for pit-props, and other pnrpo?&s. All these points le?! to National Service. Saving on imports i nleant a saving in labour, which was the absolute essential to-day. There should be no need for compulsion. He had suf- ficient confidence that when the quectioii was thoroughly understood there would bo no need for compulsion, no more thn w-s necessary to produce the Victory Loan. THE COMING VICTORY- The military position was improving, and the position was better than it had been, but he asked them not to run away with the idea that the day for shouting had arrived. We had to follow up, foliow up, until the ball was between the goal- posts. The dawn of victory," concluded Sir Alfred, "may be visible on the hori- zon, but there are many hours to sea through before we get to the full day of the successful issue. Do not let us throw away, just at the moment when our chance has come, the certainty of the result, by slackening, imagining the battle is won at the moment when it is only just begun." (Applaiisp.) I MR. ROGER BECK. -1 Mr. Roger Beck, who, coming from a sick bed, was received with hearty and con- tinued applause, said he had come to see what labour had to say about the great question now before the country. He had been closely associated with working men since 1861, but never had any connection with reducing wageR froip IDs. to 9s. (Loud laughter.) He always felt that when a workman saved money and made him- self stronger, he was a better man for the employer. (Applause) Labour's very finest representative had spoken to that audience. Canital and labour were now united i*n one great struggle. The aristocracy, and every individual in this country were united in supporting the most noble— should he say the most religious—protest against the brutal breaking of a treaty. This country was a fiae old manilla rope tluk-t would stand much greater strain yet before it burst a single strand. (Loud (applause). THE CHURCHES' PART. Canon J. H. Watkins Jones taid all I those left behind were determined to do their little bit. He was not betraying any secret when. he taid that it had been decided that in the church every man wh-u could be afforded should be sent out to do his work. (Applause). They trusted that the end of the war would not only bring together capital and labour, but from a religious point: of view, the English-speak- ing people and the people of India, banded in a great empire before which the world would tremble before it takes I up the fswoi'd again. (Applause). The Rev. T. B. Harrington said he was one of those who strove, so far as ne I could, to keep the home fires burning. He was glad to be there to support the object for which the meeting had been con- vened. a In the crucible of sacrifice and pain, each one of them had come to see that he could do something. If they would pardon an Irishism, he would pay that we who are at the back are also at the front. (Laughter.) They were all working for the same object. Rev. Penar Griffiths supported in the Welsh tongue. The heads of the Welsh Free Churches, he said/were as true ns any in the whole of Great Britain. A greater cause could never appeal to them —the cause that had been so ably repre- sented by Mr. Henderson- (Loud ap J plause.) The Chairman, in putting the resolu- tion, which was carried unanimously, said he did not remember a better meeting sinca he had been in Swansea. I MR. HENDERSON THANKED. Mr. T. J. Williams, M.P., proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Henderson, said that in his younger days he had served his apprenticeship as a moulder- He was now moulding the destiny of the nation in the cause for which they were fighin. (Applause). He al spoke of the energy an(i' wb ole-liear foci ness with which the right hon. gentleman was devoting him- Sflf to the organisation of the national service scheme. Reference was mude by Mr. Williams to the wonderful efforts j that Swansea and district were putting forward in other national enterprises, Mr. Williams also spoke of his loug and standing friendship with the Mayor, and the interest which he took in the organi- sation of war charities. The vote was seconded by Councillor I. G wynne and enthusiastically carried with musical honoiirs. Mr. Henderson having returned thanks the Mayor announced that the enrolment office in connection with the scheme would be opened at High-street on Monday morn- ÜHl. 'The singing of'tllq English ,,vnd Welsh National Anthems concluded the meeting. j MR. HENDERSON'S RECORD, j The Right lion. Arthur Henderson is one of the most alile men in the Gover, meut to-day, and is of the people. He served His apprenticeship in Mecsrs. Rolxjrt Stevenson's Work's at Newcastle, and in time he became pi'onmientiy iden- tified with Labour movements in his trade, holding from time to time offkial positions in the Trade Union. For some time he was a member of the Newcastle City Council, and later of the Darlington Borough Council, of which town lie was Mayor in ILKKH. It is a fact worth noting < that the right, hon. gentleman is a whole i life total abstainer. In 1895 he was chosen as Parliamentary colleague for John Morley 4t ?ewca?tic, but be withdrew, in favour of -Tainfs Craig. lie entered ParUa- ia OS as Labour member for Bar- nard Castle 'Division, Durham, and i quietly Hi* pewits appreciated, for he Weaiaic rkairmsi) of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 190S-10, and secretary of the labour Party later. He gained Cabinet rank when appointed Preeidev.t of the Board of Eclucation in and when the reconstruction came he joined the Cabinet of Five as Labour member. During this time has has added much to his rou"tniion as an able states- man. v