§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I would ask the indulgence of the House to enable me to make a statement. I was un-able to be here to answer a question put by my right hon. Friend below the Gangway (Mr. Crooks) because I was engaged in public business at a Munitions Conference of the Allies. Although not strictly in order, perhaps the House will permit mo to make this statement.
It will be within the recollection of the House that all holidays due in June and July were postponed in view of the urgent military requirements of the moment. I have to acknowledge, on behalf of the Government, the very full response made by the workers of the country and the public generally to the appeal I addressed to them on the subject of 31st May last. In making that appeal, I suggested that the postponed holidays might, subject to military exigencies, be taken at any time after the end of July. Since the date of that announcement a great and, I think I am entitled, to say, a very favourable change in the military situation has been produced by the Allied offensive now in progress. That offensive is only at the beginning. It necessarily requires for its successful fulfilment a great and continuous supply of munitions of every kind. An ample supply is now happily available, but the daily consumption is enormous. From the successes achieved we are able to gauge the paramount necessity of avoiding even the slightest risk of the restriction on the use of munitions in the field, not merely in the weeks immediately before us, but until our objective has been fully achieved. In the opinion of the Commander-in-Chief there must be no slackening of output even for a moment. I have, therefore, to make an appeal to the patriotism of the workers of the country and the public generally again to postpone their holiday in order that the attack which has so brilliantly begun may be carried through to a triumphant conclusion.
In the circumstances, after fully considering the matter from every point of view, the Government have decided that it is essential in the national interest that there should not be any holiday, either general or local, until such subsequent date as may be announced. Though the most obvious urgency relates to the supply 574 of munitions for the present offensive, there is an equally real urgency for every class of munitions for the Navy as well as the Army, and for the production of all the materials and means of their manufacture, In coming to this decision the Government do not underrate the sacrifice that is thereby demanded from men and. women, some of whom are already over-strained by long and continuous work. It is clear in any case that, where health requires it, leave of absence must be given to individuals. Further, the Government make themselves responsible for seeing that the holidays are merely postponed and not abandoned, and that as soon as military exigencies do permit, all postponed holidays are given in full. The Government are of opinion that the days that would otherwise have been holidays should be treated as ordinary working days, and any privileges in regard to special pay will be carried forward to the new holiday period given in lieu of the postponed holidays. The August Bank Holidays will, as before, be suspended by Proclamation. The Government are inviting the help of the Lord Mayors and Mayors, and Lord Provosts and Provosts, throughout the country in taking the necessary steps in every locality. The Ministry of Munitions and the Admiralty are arranging to meet representatives of the workmen and employers immediately to secure their co-operation in giving effect to the decision of the Government. I have no doubt as to the result of their appeal. No greater or more direct service can be rendered by the workers of this country to the forces in the field than to give the latter the encouragement and our enemies the discouragement of the certain know-ledge that the present intensity of bombardment and assault will, if necessary, be continued indefinitely. That service will be unhesitatingly rendered.