SOUNDING THE CALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2589, 11 October 1915, Page 6

SOUNDING THE CALL

FIRST RECRUITING RALLY IN WELLINGTON

SPEECHES AT THE TOWN HALL

CENTRAL OFFICE OPENED

AN EXCELLENT BEGINNING

' "Five thousand of tlie best of oiir young men. paraded through tho City. ' THiese young men Jiad mado up their minds that they were going to give up tho pleasure of living for tho glory ! of dying for their country."—Hon. A. L. Herdrpan.

The first', recruiting rally ever held in. Wellington took place on Saturday night. Tho campaign for men has been inaugurated by the' Mayor of the City (Mr. J. P. Luke). 'With one exception, all tho speakers had sons at the front, and tho chiliiren of that one were not old enough to fight. After the speeches several young men enlisted. , The striking thing about the ,campaign was the great success of the central office, which was at the Town .Hall. On this the first day of its constitution'it gathered in forty-seven men. The speeches were made from the Town Hall steps, and Here enthusiastically received by /a fairly, large audieuco.' The Mayor opened the i proceedings. .-

"A Message That We Are Coining." "We are inaugurating to-night a recruiting campaign,": said tHie . Mayor, i "We, feel this responsibility upon us. Our.- kith and kin are engaged on the . field', of battle in -$n endeavour to. bring tho. wot to. successful issue, and secure a beneficial peace for the world. This war was not-made by- British statesmen, but; is : the outcome of a, deliberate, set purpose of the enemy.' Hero in.; New ilealand'we have the conviction that Britain did the right thing in saying, that the. Empire ; would uphold little Belgium, assist France,' and endeavour to obtain : for the world bet-', ter .conditions than the woridcould have under. German domination. .We have been , told, that ; ; this ; war could have been averted. It'could not. (Hear, hear.) Heroic Belgium fought manfully for the world. ,■ If .' Belgium had : not 60 fought, .France, would. haiva been beaten, Russia would; have made peace, and the; end oHt would have been that Britain would have had fight Germany single-handed'. , Wo have been 'told.that Great Britain was not.ready, and never is ready. ■ Is mot that part of tho price of a beneficent democracy? .'.. .... What wo have, had to fight against is dishonesty in statesmanship. Wlieii a British statesman puts his seal to a document,"it riot;only binds that man, but pledges the whole of tho British: people. Tho 'signature, of' aGerman''statesman is on the document; which guaranteed the'neutrality of Belgium. . How did 1 Germany : keep that pledge? .Marched an army into the country, violated the women, killed the children, and devastated tho' land. !

' "What would bo tho position of Now Zealand if a German' army over reached these shores ? Belgium's fate would be ours. But I believe, we are mado of tho right stuff in this country. We rushed to the support of Great Britain when war broke out, and what better tribute to the country's material could there be than the deeds of our troops at tho Dardanelles. (Applause.) Now. the place for you young mon'.is beside your pals at the Dardanelles. 1 I appeal to tho ■- mothers ' and .the fathers to allow, their boys to go and assist in the campaign. . Let us send a message po the boys at the front that we. are coming to their assistance. ,' 1' liavo_ struck the first note in this campaign." '! am not an orator. 1 .But I! know ,my duty'. And my duty is to' come before you and make.;known to You what is required of you. Let us work with one common object—to secure a glorious. Victory . and .a , lasting , peace." (Applause.) . , . ' " : "The Glory of Dying For One's , ; Country." • Tho Hon. A.. L. Herdman dcclaied . that the Major deserved the thanks of tho> citizens..of ■ Wellington', for having inaugurated the campaign. "Probably better than any. speech,'- he continued,' "was the .splendid spectacle;' of .this afternoon, when 5000, of, the best of our young men paraded through the . City. - (Applause.) These yopg men had made up their mindi that they: were going to give up the pleasure of living for the, glory, of , dying for their, country. That sight:will never'be forgotten: no .sight like it has ever been witnessed in, this country. 1 (Applause.)' These men have .made their sacrifice in order that we may secure; victory,' and .that peace may come to the world. --Is not that a magnificent thing? . (Applause.) The Mayor- has-appealed to yoti to take this matter' up'. I know yon will .'do your duty, : but I desire to impress on you the fact'that we have just now reached a point where spontaneous response may, slacken. At . any rate, it lias' occurred to the Mayor that tho time has arrived to call upon the young men who' liave not yot enlisted to do so. Now, this war must ,be brought to an end. It must be brought to an end in a way .-suitable'to.'our'-nation'.'l It must bring peace. Not a peace for two or three years, but a hundred years. Victory will not N .be satisfactory unless' our enomy is brought- to his knees so that he cannot rise, to his feet again for. many years to"come." (Applause.) •'. 37,000 Men to Date. Mr. Herdman said that New Zealand had sent away since- war commenced 37,000 . troops, including the men who wont to Samoa. Was not that a great tiling for a country of a little over one million ; inhabitants? (Applause.) It was a fairly,.big strain on a country like thisi In addition, by the- end of this month,.'lo,ooo more men would be in training. . Also ; New Zealand had raised ■ the Tunnelling Corps of, nearly 400 men which the British Government had asked for. Although the country was to be .congratulated on having done so much,'., we had now reached a critical _ stage, and we must, see that every eligible-man went forward, to tho firing line.' (Hear, hear.) For it was only by men and; munitions that we could win this war. As far as hp could ■ see, the munitions question : had largely been settled owing to the brilliant genius'of. some of our British statesmen, particularly Mr.. Lloyd George. (Applause.) Men were still wanted. Every man was wanted. Every man was wanted from us as well as from other parts of the Empire, Supposo ovory other part of tho Empire did its duty, and we failed in ojirs! "I; know we will not fail, but wo must see to our duty so that no one shall over point to us_ and say New Zealand was found wanting. That, is why wo are here."

.We wore going_ to achieve victory, and perhaps got it soon if we get tho men. This was the first meeting of the kind held in-.-Wellington, hut after Parliament rose meetings would bo held throughout New Zealand. Ho was certain t'he young men of New Zealand would come forward. One thing he wanted to ask —don't let it- ever be said that Now Zealand ever failed in anything. In 'a. way New Zealand had always led. Now New Zealand was leading in the proportion of troops pent by the British Dominions. (Applause.) We woro fighting, for the greatest nation the world hod known, Great Britain had fdwayfi stood fas £ha .wasjj.

for peace, for justice, and for right. "And, ladies and gentlemen," he concluded, "don't you forget it." (Loud applause.) "We Want No Conscription/' Tho Mayor introduced a gentleman who, ho said, had worked day and night, night and day, for our army— the Hon. Jaiues Allen, Minister of Defence. Mr. Allen camo forward' amidst applause. Ho thanked tho Mayor for having inaugurated tho campaign, and said that on one previous occasion there had bcon a shortage of troops, and when lie. (the Minister) mentioned it the men had responded readily. He was sure another ready Tosponso .would answer the present appeal which His Worship wa6 leading. ' "The word comes to you again' that there is a. need for men in order that' the solemn pledge given to tho brave\fel)ows who have gone to the front shall be fulfilled. What is that pledge? . It'is.that wo will keep their ranks filled." Tho people, lie continued, must' keep that before them and constitute themselves, recruiting agents.. We-must'.realise what,our (lag meant to us, and: what our little country meant to us'. If werealised ;tJ. ; ose things, we could not fail in supplying what was required'of us.. : Our Solemn Pledge, "Let me say to the young men of military age: Now is your opportunity. We have to send 4UuU men every two months. I know we will get them. And I know that when wo arc asked to fulfil- a solemn responsibility liko this we will want no legislative pressure brought upon us to make us do it. . AVe want 110 _ conscription in New Zealand. I don't like tho idea of conscription _ in Neic Zealand.' 1 think that if the people are told what .is' wanted . they will rise to the'occasion. If' you are kept waifcinp; a little while, be patient. ■ Wo will call you up as it is convenient. . ' .

"Are you not proud of your .soldiers?" the Minister asked,, and the crowd answered: '"Yes.",. "Well," he 'continued, "let not that pride sink into, indifference. Put forth. every effort, and we will accomplish what we set out to <10. . . . Let lis realise that, wo mast r bring this war to a successful issue, and gaiii an honourable peace. Let us make a sacrifice now. Let"us. create a nation that those who come after us will be proud of: . . . My last word to you is this: Don't mako any spasmodic effort, about recruiting, but look twelve months ahead and keep up t'ho, supplies.'. Wo want'perpetual supplies of reinforcements, a That is. whatliord Kitchener asks for,, and what we have promised to do. TVo will fulfil that promise. I want a'message to go out to the boys beforo daybreak that one hundred men banded, together' in tile' City' to-day to say that they would follow on." '.'(Applause.). ' Dr. A! K. Newman, M.P., Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., and Mr. Jolly also delivered addresses appropriate to the occasion. . . •• Forty-seven Men Enrol. ■ The following forty-seven enrolled at the Town Hall and .returned their papers from the doctor:— , '

.Robert George ' Dpoley, hutclier, Trcntham Camp." ,

James Andrew Eederseh, general labourer, Wainui-o-m;ita. .' Frederick WiUiain Wheelor, shepherd, Wainui-o-mata, .7 ,:

Harold Jame3 , Crawford,;' clerk, ['clone.

; Percy, M. Wright, painter, Wellington. ,

Harry L. Hall, labourer, Khandallab. Andrew Anderson, cook, Wellington. Jolm Pierce, labourer, Silverstream.: William: Edwards, .lanonrer,. /Silverstream,

Rupert L. Mathews, clerk, Welling ton ,

James A. Shaw,... driver, Wellington, •; Jeremiah Myers, cook, James Martin, clerk, Wellington. . Leonard George Muir, driver, Wellington. • Harry C. Scaife, Seaman, Wellington James L. M'Arley, clerk,'. Wellington. George MIC. Campbell,'Civil Servant Wellington. Eric 'Charles,- Fairbrother, engineering, Wellington. ■ William W. Beard, driver, Wellington.'. ' ■'; ■" . A . Frederick .B. Beard, -tailor-out, Well- ' Archibald. Garner, Government Shops, l'otone. • '

J. 0. H. Lepper,' Government Shops, l'otone.

Frank E. Eades, driver, Wellington. Frank A. Boon, cook, Wellington. Frederick H. Barker, mechanic, Well ington. / . ■ '■ ' . . William' John Stevens; driver, Well ington.' William E. , Wilton, plasterer, Well ington. .....

John B. liogen', accountant, WolJ' ington. i ' •.

James T. A. Gibson, Trentham,

"Walter' J. Hazelwood, .timekeeper, l.owor Hutt. , .■'■

Jaines Headifen, driver,. Wellington. Arthur Charles Fye, plant-propaga-tor, Wellington. V ; ■

i. Robert D. M'Gillivray, Wellington. Francis. E. Trim,, railway employee! Wellington;- , . . ' Bryan H. Turton, elcctrical engineer, Wellington. Herbert George Blanch, builders' labourer,'. Wellington.

Nealy, Roy' Mansou, chemist's assistant, Wellington.,.,' ' Georgo Bert Vince, wire mattressmaker,.. Wellington., ! Lioiiel John Lawson, clerk, Wellington..

Frank'N. Naden,,clerk, Wellington. Joseph S.- Haig, clerk, Wellington. Albert M. Bramley, milkman, ' Wellington. John A. Beacock,, driver, Wellington. Albert George Skinner, motor tyre maker, Wellington. ' , William Gaudin, carpenter, Wellington.

Patrick Burke, machinist, Wellington. . . - .

Kfenneth M'Kenzie, farmer, Masterton. ■

The office at the Town Hall will be open to-day and following days for tho followiilg liourS:—ll a.m.—.2 p.m., S —6 p.m., 7 p.m.-r-8.30 p.m. . ' MINERS FOR.THE FRONT. Br Telejranh.—Pross Association. ■ . Westport, October 10. Tho large number of enlistments from the West Coast mines for active 6ervicc is having the effect of curtailing tlie output. ' Approximately 120 miners' h,avo enlisted from Millerton and Stockton. '

SYSTEM OF DIRECT ENLISTMENT,

THE : NEED IN AUCKLAND. ; . Auckland, October 10. After a tour of the provincial centres in connection with the unification of tho Patriotic Funds m th'o 'Auckland Military District, tlie Mayor' of Auckland states that it was everywhere apparent tliat a system of direct enlistment was urgently needed. A large number of men who would have been available had to return to their occupations in the country owing to being unable to wait on tho convenience of the Department. ■ This position was reported in every ceni.ro he visited. ENLISTMENTS IN AUSTRALIA.

By Teleffraph—Preso Association—CoDyrieht Sydney, October 9. Over three .thousand railway and tramwayinen have enlisted. The animal' report of the Swimming Association states that 269 swinimors hnvo onlisted,"

Woods' Groat Pepjcnulnt Cure, tot Cojwlm .and ooldMsKK faile, 1?, 6d.'