"FALL IN!"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 15

"FALL IN!"

ARRANGING THE RECRUITING CAMPAIGN AN ACTIVE COMMITTEE His Worship the Mayor. (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided at a mce'tiug of tho Wellington Recruiting Committee held in the Mayor's Room yesterday afternoon. There were also present: Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Messrs. R. A. Wright, M.P., W. H. l'ield, M.P., A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P,, Captain Barclay, M. l r . Luckie, and A. R. Atkinson. Dr. Newman suited that the business of the meeting was to arrange a plan of campaign. Lord Derby had said that tho idea was to create the atmosphere of a political campaign in order to engage tho attention of the thousands of men they wanted to get to attend their meetings. He proposed that the committee should decide on tho main lines on which the campaign was to be carried out, and that a smaller committee should bo appointed to get the services of suitable speakers, and arrange details as to when and where they wore to speak. Ho had given some thought to the matter, and had a.list of some thirty places all over tho district, where meetings should be held, and those he detailed. They extended from as far north as Paraparaumu on the West Coast and tho Hutt Valley to ■Wellington and its suburbs. What he wished to know was how long was the campaign to last; and he suggested that it should extend throughout the wliolo of March.

A voice: "Or longer if necessary. Dr. Newman thought they should name a definite period for a start, in order to facilitate the arrangements, and lie moved that the campaign extend throughout March. This was seconded by Mr. A. R. Atkinson, and earned.

On the proposal of. the Mayor the following sub-committee was appointed to mako the necessary arrangements l in connection with the meetings and speakers —the Mayor, Messrs. Wright, Hindmarsh, Luekie, Atkinson, and Dr. Newman. This sub-committee was also appointed to supply Press matter to the papers.

The chairman suggested Mr. R. R. Martin, junr., as secretary to the committee. He was a returned soldior from the front, and appeared to be a keen, active young man. Mr. Martin K'as called in, and, after he had retired, was appointed secretary for a period of two months at a salary of £20 per month.

Dr. Newman said that it was very important that they should get hoid of speakers who will, interest the public. I'lic names of Sergeant Fox (a returned soldier), Father Gondringer, Captain Donald Siuidoii, Mr. C. P. Skcrrctt, Rev. Archibald Hunt, Rev. I. Jolly' Corporal E. J. Carey, and, Mr. F. , AV. Man ton were mentioned as speakers tikcly to fill the bill. Tho committee would also like to hear of other attractive speakers who were prepared to help m the campaign.

The King's Shilling. Ihe point was raised bv the Hon. A. L. Hordman as to whether it was in. tended that there should be machinery to secure the men at the meetings— Uiere and then. Captain Barclay said that was the gicat trouble. At tho one meeting held when they got the men to fill up the cards sixteen had signed, but of those ho had been chasing fourteen evw since. He had only got two of them, ft was essential that they should fet some hold _ou them, and at present they had no. hoid on a man even al't; p he filled tip tho card, and was exam • inetl. He was not sworn in until he went fo camp. 'J-*bc Son. A. L. Herdman; "How do they do in England ?" Captain Barclay: "He is sworn in right away, and takes the shilling. Having taken the King's money, he's a soldier, and there you are!" The Hon. Mr. Herdman: " I think

wiat something should be done to get a hold on the mcu right away. The difficulty with the Defence people was that tlioy hadn't, sufficient men w train the recruits." The Chairman: "Couldn't the Government draw up a- card, the signup <,f which would be as binding as acceptinc 'Che King's shilling?" Mr. Field: "Then they would have to pay tnem right away. They don't want to pay them, and then have them rojeeted as unfit."

Oni tlie Mayor's proposal it was decided that be, Captain Barclay, and Dr. .Newman wait upon the Minister of Defence in regard to the mattor to-day. Mr. Herdman said that in the case of a man signing a card at a meeting, ho wished to be a soldier right aivay. Now he was told to go about his business, and other things cropped up to divert liis inind.