DR. M'NAB'S TOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2642, 13 December 1915, Page 6

DR. M'NAB'S TOUR

DEMAND FOR COMPULSION

FEELING VERY STRONG

"Certainly the position in regard to recruiting is very serious just now south of Cook Strait," said the Hon. .Dr. M'Nab yesteiday, speaking to a Dominion reporter about his recent recruiting campaign. "Some think that the shortage of men is duo to tiie holidays, but this reason would apply equally to the North-, Island'. 1 am hoping that our campaign may show some results. It is very difficult to analyse the effect of what has been done. I tliiuk there is a larger proportion of men of military ago up here than down south, and probably the migration of the young southern men has taken from the South Island and put into thi6 island the men of more' adventurous spirit, likely to be quick to respond to tho recruiting call. That' tvas, 1 think, tho most sensible suggestion I heard in my tour to explain the Blackness of recruiting in the south. I know that in my district of Hawke's Bay a. lot of tho men who have enlisted have their nexi>of-km in the south, and I have hearcl from other districts that this state of things is general. "This soems to explain why the difficulty occurs in the south. I know that as 1 went through differenl/dlstrictsl could not find that there was any larger body of young men there than here. All the young men seemed to have gone. The districts were stripped of single young men. I don't think it is, right to say ■ that tho southern young man is a shirker. ,

"I spoke at twenty-one meetings in all from Rangiora to Invercargill, and all the meetings were well attended. I. could not wish for bettor audiences, 1 but we were not rushed with recruits. As a result of my' experience on tho tour, I think it is best not to ask for men at the meetings, but to let. the local committees deal with the men. At the meotings one oau deal with the subject generally with a view to arousing a public opinion to influence the eligible men, who are apt to stay away from meetings if it is understood that recruits are to be asked for at the meeting. But a young man will come provided he is assured that ho is not going to be put in an awkward position before a crowd. Once he is there he j may possibly be influenced by what is said.

"In'tho south generally I found , just 'as healthy a public opinion as exists here. The people are even more aggressive in-tlioir demands about the stops to.be taken to get men. To me it seemed that a majority of them want the Government to "go the whole hog," and thi6 is especially so in Otago. There is a section of opinion in Christclmrch which does not favour compulsory service, but the further south you go the stronger is the feeling in _ favour of compulsion." Dr. M'Nab cited as instances of the strength of the fooling tho fact that several public men, formerly active in recruiting, now refused to assist the recruiting movement in any way, deolaring that the voluntary system was played out, and that they would not help to bolster it up. These men were, of course, demanding that the Government should take other steps. HANGING BACK FOR CONSCRIPTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 11. The Hon. Dr. R. M'Nab passed through Christchurch this evening on his way back to Wellington from tljo south, where he has just completed his first recruiting campaign in the South Island. Ho will be conducting another campaign in Canterbury , nest January. Interviewed, Dr. M'Nab said that he could not describe his recent campaign as satisfactory. He believed that tho recruiting got worse through the publication of the National Census figures. The publication of tho figures had caused a largo number of men who would otherwise have offered _ their services to liiuig buck for coUßuriptioii. Bud us |ih« Eemoase to call for. ipiv,was in

Christchurch, that in Otago was infinitely worse, whilst the demand for the introduction of conscription was far stronger in Otago i'han in Canterbury; so strong was it there that prominent persons would not go on the recruiting platform on the ground that conscription should ho introduced.

Commenting generally upon his tour of the South Island, the Minister said: "I found a-condition of things I never though of when I started on my cam- ■ paign. The recruiting has got so low." Asked as to the chances of conscription being introduced shortly, if the recruit,ing figures did not improve, the Minister said: "We have got to send tho required number of reinforcements to tho front, because they are very badly wanted, Until Cabinet discussofi the question of conscription, however, no person can say what will be done." DEMAND FOR COMPULSION (From a Correspondent.) , Rotorua, December 11. At a meeting held last night the following resolution was adoptod:— "That the executivo oi the Botorua Centre of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Distress Relief Association, is emphatically of the opinion that the voluntary scheme is unfair, and has proved ineffective; it urges the Government to establish compulsory military servico with the least possible delay." TO GET AT MEN WHO WILL NOT SERVE SUGGESTION TO THE GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph..- Vress Association.! Auckland,. December 11. The Chamber of Commerce carried unanimously a resolution requesting the Government to issue registration cards

to all who registered as willing to serve, their country, the cards to snow name and ago, whether volunteered for active service, civil work, or both, with a view to enabling employers when engaging men to discriminate in favour of those willing to do their share in serving their country and Empire. A DTJTY FOR NEW ARRIVALS. Auckland, December 12. ■Mr. A. M. Myjers (Minister for Munitions), in the course of an interview, approved of the request made by the Auckland Chamber of % Commerce that the Government, by the issue of registration cards to men willing to serve, should give employers an opportunity of discriminating between men prepared to do their duty and otters not so prepared. ■ Mr. Myers also, said that lje thought it desirable that the Government should take steps to have entered on the.National Register men who have entered the country since the Register was taken. Men oil landing in the Dot minicra should be given the opportunity of filling in the National Register form. A fine patriotic spirit is evident in Mr. Rowland's splendid offer of 15 per cent, discount to- Soldiers on all' trade lines. Wristlet watches from 10s., with radium dials from 225. 6d. Take advantage of this generous offer and visit A. E. M. Rowland, Jeweller, 90 Manners Street, Wellington.—Advt.