THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2626, 23 November 1915, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN

LORD DERBY'S SCHEME

TRIBUNALS FOR APPEALS

By Telegraph—Pxcss Association—OoDjrlsrM

t , , r I Lond on, November 21. itr i, 1 Mouda y Morning papers, Mr. Walter Long (President of the Local Government Board) "will issue' instrucwon 3, under "which every local governing authority ia Groat Britain .appoints a tribunal in connection with Lord Derby's recruiting schome. The tribunal receives applications from persons desiring to be placed in u laWr group because they aro indispensable to a business which is nationally important, or for their own business, financial, or dornestio reasons. The claims are to be referred to the local recruiting officer, Vho assents or requires the ' tribunal to investigate and aujudi--cate.' Appeal may be made from the local to tlie central tribunal. The schedules enumerate the occupations -which are important, tnese including, munitions, mining, agriculture, railways, • and others of cardinal importance thereto. The claims placed by, 6Ucli classes may be. referred by the Government Departments to tlie local tribunals. A BOOST TO RECRUITING ALREADY , , , - London, November 21. Recruiting lias largely increased sines yesterday's 'statement.-. Commencing in December the London, banks will'-tlose at 3 o'clock, except on Saturdays,, when they will close at 1 o clock. ' With a. view to assisting recruiting tlie banks are releasing a number of clerks. conscripSTthe ONLY ' ' \ ALTERNATIVE SPEECH BY LORD DERBY ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' London,' November 21. Lord Derby, speaking at. Edinburgh, said Mr. Asquith's statement <ff Nov- • ember 2 was that of an honourable man. speaking for the nation. Personally he (Lord Derby) did not see any difference between his statement an<l Mr. Asquith's. One said other methods might have to be adopted later; Mr. Asquith's statement said "compulsory . methods." Lord Derby added: "There is no alternative to voluntaryism except compulsion. _' Single men must stand that if they do hot come forward they will force Parliament to consider the .question of compulsion. As the one responsible for this scheme, I give, you my personal pledge that I will see that absolute faith is kept with married men who liave joined under an assurance given by the country. I would not stand for bad faith with those ready to risk tbeir lives for the country. Married men will not be called upon until Mr. Asquith's conditions aro fulfilled." [In his speech in the House of Commons on Novembor 2, Mr.'Asquith, in describing the Government's conduct of the war, dwelt on the question of compulsion, on which, differences of opinion had arisen in the Cabinet. He admitted that voluntary recruiting as it Lad hitherto been practised 1 was haphazard, capricious, and, to some extent, unjust, but his objection to compulsion was based on the, ground that under existing conditions compulsion.would forfeit what he regarded as of supreme capital importance, namely,' the maintenance of our national unity. He would propose, not that they should rule out compulsion as an impossible expedient, but that compulsion ought only to be resorted to with 6oniething approaching general consent. He did not fear that there would be any necessity to resort to anything beyond Lord Derby's great national effort, which was-being darried out with tho hearty good will of all parties. Ho emphasised tho point that married men who enlisted would not be called upon to serve while the younger and unmarried men were holding back. Ho hoped that the services of the unwould bo obtained by voluntary effort, but, if need; be, these would be secured by other means:-: Speaking again in the House of Commons, tbis time on Wednesday last', Mr! Asquith refused to go beyond his statement of November 2, and added: "It is my hope and belief that there will be ho question of resorting to coercion, as there will be an adequate response from all classes to the recruiting call, especially amongst the unmarried men."

On Saturday last, a London message stated that Lord Derby, iii a letter to Mr. Asquith had endeavoured to 'clear up the uncertainty .of the Ministerial statement regarding recruiting. "Ho understands," said the message, "that the married men will not be called before itho young unmarried men. If the latter do not offer voluntarily, the married men win be released from their pledge, or a Dill will be introduced compelling the young men to serve. If the Pill is not passed, the married men will bo automatically released. Lord Derby interprets the words 'young unmarried men' to mean the vast majority not engaged in munition or other essential national work. Mr. Asquith replied that the letter correctly expresses the Government's intentions."]