THE DUTY OF ALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 6

THE DUTY OF ALL

It is now evident that some stimulus to recruiting is required if the ranks, of the next month's reinforcement draft aro to be, adequately filled.' Two timely suggestions to this end are put forward, in our correspondence columns this morning, and are worthy of attention from those in authority. The' opposition of the Government of late months to suggestions that >Ncw Zealarfd should materially increase its efforts have had rather a. dampening effect on" the country in the matter of recruiting. i It'is necessary,in consequence, that'. speoial efforts should be made to reawaken the public to the real- needs.' without delay,- and to arouse a martial spirit. , In the City,- parades of military bands through the streets in the evening woulcf bo an excellent step, and, if the right chord were struck, a re-cruiting-rally in the Town; Hal} could ■ surely be made a great success. We hope' that Wellington, which has-; already done' so splendidly' in' supplying men, will ,once more set the lead in this matter, and spur to, action other districts whose recruiting figures are still proportionately some way behind their resources in 'single men of military age. One has only to be about the streets during the lunoh 'hour and after five o'clock to see that very large numbers of young men. of good stamp for the making o£ soldiers still remain. Some of them, of course, have already enlisted, aind are merely waiting the call to / begin their training, but there are many who have not yet come forward. All employers, ; we trust, will respond to Mr. .Allen's appeal, and place every facility in the ■ way of those of their staffs who wish to volunteer, and 'treat the men who go as generously as tsie financial circumstances of their businesses will allow. No man should be placed in the position that through serving his country he lost the right to the situation he held at the time of .his enlistment. The majority of the employers who could do no more have undertaken to keep open the positions oi those of their men who enlist, and this at. least' "should be made the rule. These are times which call for sacrifices all round. Those who have only their bodies to offer must offer them; those who" have only wealth must offer it; and those who havo both must offer both. It is for every man, young and old alike, to bo sure that he at least is setting an example to his fellow citizens by doing- all that lies in his power for his country's cause. ' <