RECRUITING BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2693, 12 February 1916, Page 7

RECRUITING BOARD

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME

CO-OPERATION OF LOCAL COVERN. INC BODIES.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. \Y. F. Massey), who is Chairman of the ltecnnting Board, stated yesterday that •he hud received letters froiii a large number of local governing bodies who had undertaken with enthusiasm to cooperate with the board in'carrying out the scheme. He had received only one letter from a local body in which they expressed unwillingness to act. Ho had not yet received an official reply from the Waipa County Council, which was the first to make its refusal public. "I can only say with regard to Waipa," said tho Primo Minister, "that I am 6orry the Council is not so enthusiastic in its patriotism as tho majority of local bodies throughout tlie dominion, and I am quite certain its decision does not represent the feeling of the residents in the locality." ORGANISATION IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT. MNER-AL COMMITTEE APPOINTED. A meeting convened by tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) and attended by members of Parliament for the district, City. Councillors, Mayors of suburban boroughs, and chairmen of district county councils and boards, was held at the Town Hall yesterday. Tho purpose of the meeting was to decide Upon the initial steps to be taken for an organised enlistment campaign on tho lines laid down in tho llccruiting Board's scheme. •" . The Mayor, who -presided, considered that it behoved them to do ivhat tliey could ; to assist in tho scheme, and so support tins further effort on the voluntary principle. They should not confine themselves to enlisting the services of nien in the work of recruitment, but should also make use of the persuasive oloquence of. the fair sex.' He suggested that a public meeting should shortly i e ,°i ld , in . tlle To "' 11 Hall. Meetings should also be held in tlio parks and streets, when those with a gift of.happy speech should bo asked to deliver addresses. ' A-- central recruiting organisation for the district should f.et to work as early as possible, and map out a plan, of campaign. In addition to ' public meetings the movement would S i mi a °f individual effort. The scheme would be a test of the voluntary system and all those associated with public bodies should help to make tlio_scheme a success. He moved: ''That this meeting resolves that a cen-tral-recruiting organisation for No. 6 SCroup, Wellington Military District, Le astablished, comprising (a) Wellington City, liarori, aud Miramar Boroughs; tb; of N Petoiic, Lower Hutt, iLastbouriie, and the township of Upper Hutt; (c) Onslow Borough and Johnsonville district; (d) Makara and Hutt Counties." . Moore seconded the lapticn which was carried. It was further resolved that a Kenoral committee be formed consisting of the Mayors of Wellington, Karori, Mirauiar, Petone, Lower Huttj Eastbourne, and. Onslow, the. chairmen of the Hutt and Makara County Councils, the chairthe Upper Hutt and Joliusonville Town Boards, members of' Parliament for the district, Captain Barclay, and Councillors Barber, Frost, and •Vejtch. * It was decided to ask -the authorities to allow the recruiting office in existence at the Town Hall, under Captain Barclay to be utilised, as the centre of t'ho Wellington and district efforts under the now scheme. „ Mr. J. M'Bean was appointed temporarily to the position of secretary.