CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 153, 29 April 1940, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

SUBJECT AGAIN RAISED FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNTY COUNCIL 1 VIEWS OF THE MEMBERS It may be remembered that at a previous meeting the Whakatane County Council had received a circular letter from the New Zealand Defence League inviting the Council to pass a resolution on the subject of conscription. The circular was sent to all local bodies in New Zealand and the majority of them, advised the Defence League that " they were unable to comply ~ with the request. The County " Council's view was expressed in >a motion which read: That in the of this Council conscriptioiJifr a controversial issue -sat the moment and therefore ' this Council has no desire to ex- • -press an opinion on behalf of ■ the ratepayers. The subject was raised at the "last meeting of the Council! "-when Councillor T. G. H. Cawte wed that the resolution be re•scinded, the motion being productive of a keen, and at times lively, debate. "I came late to the last meeting, otherwise I would certainly have opposed the motion," said Cr Cawte. 111 the last war the Governments hands had to be forced to bring in conscription, but the pity was that while that was being done we lost hundreds of men on Gallipoli. Those 18 men stuck there month after month, suffering, and they could not be relieved because there were no reinforcements. Our officers said. 'You'll .•get leave when reinforcements arrive,' but they never came. It was then that all bodies, local and otherwise, forced the Government to in conscription," Country Men Answering the Call. ~ <4 The majority of my friends died at •Gallipoli," continued Cr Cawte, """purely because the Government - was not strong enough to do the proper thing. If a crash came to-mor-row, where would our troops be "without reinforcements? Then production suffered and it will be the ■ same this time because it is the conn try men who are jumping forward Ao answer the call." Cr Cawte said that the Government would bring in conscription • only under pressure and asked, "Are "We going to let all the best of our men go ancl be killed like they were last time. That is why 1 would like nthe motion rescinded. I would like it known that we support conscription. I would not be doing my duty if I did not push it forward. Those of us who were at Gallipoli, while ' they were still bickering at home* • appreciate the necessity and the intLPortance of the measure."

Contradiction. "Cr McGougan seconded the motion. c "The disaster at Gallipoli was not 'occasioned by lack of reinforcetnents" said Cr Smith. "I was in Egypt two months before the evac■nation and there were plenty of t 'traiiied reinforcements there. In ( Zealand at that time ther<* i were hundreds of men waiting to I .go into camp," Cr Smith added thai s the Government should not be fore- 1 •ed. To do so would not soften tin- 1 -problem. Gr McCready said that Gallipoli c -was a wild-cat scheme and did not 1 fail because of lack of reinforce- f ments. The volunteers were there—> 1 it was the heavy, losses that caused ] the trouble. 1 Wrong Angle. "1 think tackling it from the wrong angle," said Cr McCrac- - lien. "The original request for a motion came from the Defence League and local bodies Avere opposed to it because of its source." Gr McCracken said that he was sorry the subject had been raised again, while at the same time appreciating Cr Cawte's views. If the motion should be rescinded consideration would have to be given to the letter answering the original re•4 quest. Cr Burt considered that the fairest thing was conscription and supported the view that the farms ■would suffer if voluntary enlistment •continued and men were taken from the country districts. "I don't think its wise to go into tile why and wherefor," said Cr Stfe.Goujgan. "I am looking at it from the farmers' point of view. Jtfy - sympathy is with the farmer, who Is supported by conscription, j I • don't cave a tin of fish about fetaa

Government. The ratepayers put me in.," The Chairman: But you are just expressing your own views now, aren't you? Gr McGougan: When I vote on matters affccting the County, I am speaking for the ratepayers. The Chairman: Oh* yes, but thai is different. Councillor's Experience. "I can bear out what Councillor Cawte said," stated Gr Luxton. "1 served on Gallipoli and was wounded. I came back to New Zealand and was discharged as medically unfit. When things looked desperate over there I and.two others volunteered again. We were in camp at Featherston when the 22nd, 23rd and 24th Reinforcements were leaving and were asked if we would go with them. They were definitely short." Cr Luxton said further that thero was a lack of numbers for the »Md Echelon and revealed the fact that Major Dawe, Officer in Charge of No. 2 Area (Paeroa Headquarters) had stated at the recent R.S.A. reunion that the Area was fifty shout •of its quota. Cr Luxton added that there were dozens of young men who were not afraid to enlist but would not until conscription was introduced and said that not one ratepayer in his riding had haul-" ed him over the coals' for the stand he took wlicn the Defence League's request had received consideration by the Council. Government's Responsibility. "This seems to be a general ex* pression of opinion,'" said Cr Spencc, "but I am rather sorry the matter was brought up again." The Councillor added that lie favoured conscription but the letter had com'a from the Dcfcnce League and 1 J', still thought it was the Government's responsibility to see that the country did its job. The Govern-* mcnt had the information necessary and Avas in the position to know the requirements. The Chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, said that Cr McGougan had stated; that production was injured by the voluntary system. Cr McGougan: I didn't say any-» thing of the sort. I want to make it clear ... The Chairman: You said the men were going off the farms. You said the present system was detrimental. The position is that men can't be called on unless the permission of the employer is given. Cr McGougan: Yes, but I did not say that production was injpred by the voluntary system. You shouldn't put words into my mouth. Method of Evasion. "Under the system at present the employers are first asked whether they can spare the men," said the Chairman.

Gr Lux ton: A man on my farm wanted to enlist. I was asked if I could spare him and I replied that it would leave me short. The result 1 was that the man gave notice. Continuing, the Chairman said that a member of the Recruiting Council had told him that a Division of 20,000 men had been formed, plus 1600.1 "We don't know the inside information. The Government knows and if they have got the men we can't say the system h.ais failed. Anyhow, the proper procedure for the Defence League would have been to call public meetings and then if resolutions had been passed they could have been forwarded on to the Government. That is my only objection." Motion Lost. Cr Cawte then put the question, "If the voluntary system of ment is such a great success, (why do Ministers of the Crown and other prominent men have to speak at recruiting rallies?" "The whole thing is futile,'" said Mr Burnett, referring to the discussion, "because if we rescind the motion where are we?" At the Chairman's requesti for a show of hands, Councillors Cawte, Burt, Lux ton and McGougan voted for the motion to rescind the vious resolution and the Chairman, • Councillors McCracken, McCready, » Ward law, Smith and Spence voted - against it. > If you are a victim of SCALP - STARVATION; if your hair is fallx ing, or, if you suffer from dandruff, j premature greyness, or threatened a baldness, try Birmese Herbal Hair 1 Root Compound. Birmese gives new q life to the hair. 5/6 d from F. G.