RECRUITING METHODS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2602, 26 October 1915, Page 6

RECRUITING METHODS

WHERE WE FAIL. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In answer to H. H. Robjohn's letter, dated October 20, I should like to state that it is not a "mero coincidence" that Queensland is providing more than her quota of men for the front. Having lived and travelled in that country for more than two and a half yeans • I am able to give the real reason of her greater number of volunteers. Whether the Government is at the back of it all, or whether tho majority is sheer patriotism. 1 will leave my readers to decide for themselves. First, I will give a sample of the conversation overtieard in a second or third-rate Queensland dining-room and a New Zealand ono of the same standard. lam a Now Zealander, and am ashamed to state that tho following sample is absolutely correct: —.

Iu Queensland dining-room: First man .to his neighbour: "'Eard the news, Tom? Those blighted Huns gained ground at , and a bloomin' Zeppelin bombed and killed a lot of women and kids in London. Wouldn't I like to give 'cm beans?" Second man: "Well, why don't yer go, then? I joined this inornin'." First man: "Can't! The missus Bays threo out of one family ia enough, and who's to look after the old mother, and her *nd the five kids? I'm the only one that's stayed 'ome. She said this moraiin' if things don't buck up soon I can go if I want ter." In New Zealand dining-room: First man: "'Eard what won the Spring 'Andicap. I 'ad a quid on Wallace Wood." Second Man: "Wallace came second. I backed Bell Gray. Did yer take a ticket in 1 that Southland Queen Carnival. Be a bit of orlright to pull out something good." That is the biggest reason. Now for the lesser ones:

Down Queen Street, Brisbane, aro three recruiting officers. A foreigner would know tliem, for across the street, high above all traffic, is stretched a huge piece of canvas, on which is the picture of a wounded soldier, defending a fallen comrado and looking backwards with utter despair written on his features, waiting for the long-coming help, and saying "Why don't they come?" In tho background is depicted a crowd oil pleasure bent; and the contrast fairly hits one in the face. Underneath, in large letters are the words "ARE YOTJ GOING?" while a swart military arm points to the recruiting office. In 90 per cent, of tho offices and Shops in Queensland aro large cards of similar typo. Others, again, refer to rolunteering in their advertisements, or havo large toy soldiers in imitation trenches, battleships, etc.; shops vying mill each other as to_ which can have Ihe most novel attraction in their windows to draw the attention of would-bo volunteers. All picture shows and theatres have a large placard with some strong hint to. men to enlist. A popular one is simply a volunteer's cap, with tho words: "DOES IT FIT YOU?' 1 while the actual "movies" themselves have a short film urging men. to enlist, which is shown after every interval.

In front of the G.P.0., for some length of time, men (any man who could and would talk) have stood on a specially-erected platform and told the people a few homo-truths. There have been plenty of listeners, and they appear to navo listened to some purpose. The trams all bear placards similar to those over the recruiting offices, and every paper devotes* a space to the same picture of the wounded soldier and his friend. The large stores from whence all the stations get their supplies have recruiting cards, and every order that reaches an out-back station contains one or two of them. ■ Also, there are recruiting sergeants in all fairsized towns, and they will have a "yarn" with all likely-looking chaps who they can chum up to, a good number of whom no doubt take the King's shilling.' I think this concludes the different methods of recruiting in Queensland. The men of Queensland have thoroughly realised what the consequences of defeat would mean to their women and children, and if the men of New Zealand would sit _ down for only ton minutes and think of what would happen to those dearest to tl>em if the hideous Huns landed here to-morrow they would grab their hats and bolt to the nearest recruiting office, and "Be Prepared" to either go forth to fight or to defend their homes and families.

Kitchener calls for men and they will not realise that not only their lives aiul their homes, but truth, honour, and right are involved in this terrible struggle for supremacy. Sir, thanking you in anticipation,—l am, ctc., JAMES CRESSWELL. October 21.