CONSCRIPTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 6

CONSCRIPTION

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Conscription being, as we are told, "in the air," a 1 published opinion of the late.General Sir Hector Macdonald, K.C.B.—"Fighting Mac."—will doubtless be of interest at the present time. _ In conversation with a representative of tho "Aberdeen Journal," as published in that newspaper on May 19, 1899, Sir Hector (then Colonel) Maodonald was asked:

'JWhat do you really think of conscription?"

"Oh," he laughingly replied, "don't call it conscription, for you know it will never do to call it by that name." _ "And do you think the country is ripe for conscription?"

"My own opinion is it will come, but it will only coino by a gradual process, and it is this—that the country must wake up to the fact that fthe army cannot compcto with the labour market, and, as they cannot compete with the labour market, they must go in for a liberal conscription, from which neither rich nor poor should be exempted I am not speaking authoritatively, you will understand, as from the War Office, hut that is certainly my own private opinion."

In other words, you would have a system such as at present provails in Germany?"

"Scarcely in the same style; but 1 believe conscription will come, and it will bo good for the army and good for the country when it does'come."— I am, etc., w„. MRCIVAL R. WADDY. Wellington, November 4, 1915.

Mr. Do Cosmos, a member of the Legislature of British Columbia, onco mado a speech which lasted for twontvja, Jmurs. on end,