The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1915. A CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2572, 21 September 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1915. A CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND

It would bo a magnificent achievement for the British Empire to carry tho .yrar through to victory with every man in tho, ranks a.volunteer who had stepped forward of his own free will. Already there must be in tho Begula.r Army ; tho British Territorials, the Dominion Contingents, and tho Navy, close on four million men who have freely offered their country their services. The raising of such a force on tho voluntary principle, is without precedent in tho history of the world, arid would be possible among no people save the British. There could be no finer tribute to tho enduring greatness of our Empire than that its citizens divided by the waste of seas and scattered' around the world' Should thus leap to arms under no compulsion save- that of their own consciences. Is it possible to. carry the war through to that.conclusion which we all so ardently desire on this principle 1 Men and still more men are needed, and already the issue between compulsory and voluntary service is on the knees of tho pods, iligbtly or . .wrongly tfecro is a largo section of

people in Britain who distrust tin cry for compulsion and who believe that its advocates have some ulterior purpose in view and desire-to drive from power those who disagree with them. It may be that this feeling, whatever its 'foundation, is neithor so widespread nor so deep as is represented by those who give expression to it. That point can be settled finally only by putting the matter to the test. It would be deplorable if in the midst of tho most critical stage of this immense struggle Britain should be 'torn with internal dissension. On this might hinge perhaps just the difference between victory ancl defeat. It would be the happiest solution- of these difficulties if such an impetus could bo given to the spirit of voluntary service that all need for compulsion disappeared. Lord Kitchener*, who is not a man given to florid rhetoric, very truly told us the other day that "in every man's life there comes a supreme hour towards which all earlier experience moves, and from which all future results may bo reckoned. That hour, in the fullest sense, has, wo believe, now come for the great Dominions of the Empire. Our aid in this war, valuable as it has been in itself; has been infinitely more valuable in its moral effect. To see the lion's whelps overseas rallying to the call has been to demonstrate to ourselves and to the world that the unity of the Empire is real and "though its veins a.re million its soul is one." We talked freely enough in the early stages of tho war, when such sacrifice seemed far and distant, of our willingness to answer the call to arms to our last man and our last shilling. In 'our own little corner of the world everyone who Knows the people of this country knows there is a grim earnest reality behind those words. If we in New Zealand and the other Dominions could at this critical juncture give a reallyv practical demonstration of our readiness to aid the Motherland to' tho uttermost tho effect might easily bo to stir up such a feeling of pride and generous emulatioii throughout the Empire as to caa'i'y everything .before it.

It may, bo asked: "How can we in this remote and partially .developed country do much more than wo are doing? We are told often enough that even to dispatch and equip our present relatively small forces our resources are heavily taxed." The' answer to this is that the most important portions of our fighting equipment must be provided by Britain, and tho provision of equipment and munitions for the British forces and their Allies is one of the burning questions in Britain to-day. We can assist to stimulate tho movement' to seeuro a greater output of these essentials to victory. The first thing to bo done is to let Britain know in as emphatic a way as possible how keenly desirous our citizens are of doing their share in; the struggle. .This, we believe, can best bs effected through the National Registration Bill, which the Government proposes to pass into law. The measure as it stands, excellent as it is in principle, is not, in certain respects, as happily drafted, as it might be for achieving this end. Men are asked to stato theirWillingncss to volunteer without any indication being given whether their answer is tantamoiint'to enlistment or whether tho inquiry is a preliminary one to the feeling in the country. Nor is it made clear that 'the father of a family of six small children in modest circumstances who offers himself will not bo called upon until after the supply of other volunteers less burdened with responsibilities is exhausted. These are important matters, and unless all doubt is set at rest the answers to the questions may easily bo disappointing. The clauses as they.stand read l as follow:—

(a) Whether ho has- volunteered for military service beyond New Zealand us a member,/of--an Expeditionary Forco in connection with the present war; if so, whether ho has been accepted for service or rejected. (ii).lf he has not volunteered for service, whether he is willing to become a member of an Expeditionary Force; if so, in what arm of the service he is prepared to serve. (iii) If ho has not volunteered for service, or is not prepared to volunteer for service, whether he is willing to serve in- any other capacity' in connection' with the present war; if not prepared to offer his services cither as a member of an < Expeditionary Force or otherwise, tho reasons therefor. In place of this we would muoh prefer to see on the form an inquiry somewhat on the' following terms: Have you already volunteered for military service beyond' New Zealand with tho Expeditionary Force? Answer "Yes" or "No," and .if you have volunteered, state whether accepted or rejected. If you wish to volunteer for military service in the Expeditionary Forces beyond tho Dominion, fill in. form "A." below. If you wish to volunteer for other work than* military service fill in form "B" below. Form "A." I wish to volunteer for military service beyond New Zealand in tho Expeditionary Forces when recruits of my age and circumstances are required, and desi ro that tho Defence Department shall notify mo when they , wish to enlist recruits in the graclo in which I am placed in view of my qualifications . and responsibilities. Signature Date Form "B." If volunteers aro required to make up shortages of workers in necessary. industries owing to the war. please send me notico when, and on what terms, volunteers are required in. (state any occupation or occupations other than that in which you arc engaged in which you aro competent) Signature Dato Tho response to inquiries couched in such terms as these would reveal the feeling of the entire community in a far more satisfactory way than the present questions could be expected to do. . To get the best results in the taking of the Register it seems to us .that it would be an excellent plan to deal with each military district in rotation. If the forms were issued first in one district and then in another, it would be possible, by adjourning Parliament and arranging for the" members and other public men to , deliver addresses in every 'town and village in the district where the Register was being taken, to make its compilation a solemn national act by which the country consecrated, itself to the prosecution .of the war to the utmost limits of its endurance. Tho message that His Excellency the Governor would be able to send to Britain announcing the result of the Registration would, we tliin.k, bn one that would cause a thrill of pride throughout the whole of the Empire. Here then is a very real service we can do for the cause we all have at heart. It is not a work that can be delayed. The need is now, and wo hope that the PimiE Ministei: will push on the Bill, the printing of tho forms, and the general arrangements for tho tnkius of tho Register with Lhc utmost Ulspateh)