The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MONIRNG. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4005, 11 August 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MONIRNG. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915.

The announcement that a Bill is being propa rod pro vid ing for tlio taking of a National Register in t’iiis Dominion will not come as any surprise. In the United Kingdom steps in this direction were taken some months ago; in Canada a War Census has also been made; and only last month Australia undertook a. similar duty. Dealing with this important matter in the House of Commons Mr Asquith., it nmy be remembered, put the position very clearly : “A supreme cause,” he said. “is at stake. We have each and all of ms, I do not care who we are or what we are, we have each and all of us to respond with, whatever we have, with whatever we can give, and, what, is harder still, with whatever wo can sacrifice to the dominating and inexorable call". ‘•How do we stand to-day? .The tactual fortunes of the campaign fluctuate from week to week, and almost from day to day. It is not

The Pr-opossci War Census.

a war of dramatic surprises or of quick decisions. The theatre is so vast, the scale of operations is so far beyond what the eye can take in at a glance, that, lit up though the scene constantly is by splendid acts of heroic adventure, perhaps the main impression at this moment in the minds both of combatants and of onlooker is that of a gigantic struggle of endurance. If that he so, let it he said of us at any rate that we endured to the end. ! 'We shall do well to continue to pay no heed to the blind counsels of hysteria and panic. Wc have for the moment one plain and paramount duty to perform, to bring to the service of the State the willing and organised help of every class in the community.” There can be no question but that the Government is doing only what is right in following tho lead of other portions of the Empire in this important matter. As far as this Dominion is concerned it is giving cheerfully of its manhood and in gifts of treasure it has not boon behind-liand, But more may at any time he required of our nation. In this regard tho appointment of a Minister of Munitions and of Military Supplies is significant, and Mr Myers will lill the portfolio admirably. It is, of course, not to bo supposed that any drastic measures will' he taken immediately upon tho compilation of the proposed War Census. As a matter of fact efforts arc first of all to be made to fulfil requirements in tho way of clothing and equipment by ordinary contracts which may involve merely tho extension of various industries by private enterprise. There is, however, some risk that oven tho resources of this Dominion may have to ho more fully organised and it may even he tho position as it is in other portions of the Dominion that the Government may have to assume control of various classes of factories. The steps that are to be taken arc therefore more in the natui'o of precautionary meaures so‘that if further and much heavier demands have to ho made on the people of this country the. Government wild at once be in a position to make any necessary arrangements for the supply of more men or for fulfilling larger orders for materials. Without a census embracing the details as to tho wealth of tho community as well as tho number of men available and the capacity of existing factories no portion of the Empire can of course indicate to tho Motherland the maximum amount of help which can bo provided in tho event of tho strain of tho war becoming very severe. In the case of war nothing it is clear must he left to chance, As Mr Hughes pointed out recently- in tho Federal House;

“The war called for sacrifices., but the sacrifices must fall equally.on all. There was the sacrifice of life, which every man if ho was physically fit and volunteered must bo prepared to risk, and there wero sacrifices of wealth. It was abundantly clear that those who have wealth would tie called upon to make sacrifices which in ordinary times they would not hp called upon to make. “Tho object of a War Census was to find out what their resources were so that they should know how they could keep tho fighting lino m> to proper strong!:!). That could not ho done unless they called upon wealth to make sacrifices. livery man should make a sacrifice. If ho had wealth lie should give that; if it--had only his body be should give that; and if he had wealth and body ho should, if necessary, give both.” We. believe that tho people of this Dominioyrwill accept tho situation with ijgf utmost cheerfulness. NobodyJSCl trust, contemplates Unit tho \\ srjfflKJsition will demand wholesale ssjH'ifieing of men and wealth. Hut were is only one sensible way in which Wo face - any possible further demands and that is to ho prepared for any emergency. Tho sooner our Empire has at its command as much of its resources at it may fiijd necessary tho sooner will the linns and their partner;; he. made to feel the full strength of the blow which United Britain can and must deliver in order to bring for llie Allies a glorious lasting triumph.