RECRUITING BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2701, 22 February 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING BOARD

TEE HELP OF THE LOOAL BODIES

The work, of tho Recruiting Board was the subject of a (statement by the Right Hon. ,W. F. Massey, the chairman of the board, yesterday. "Some of the local bodies," said Mr. Massey, "seem to have got tlie idea that the board expects them to do all the. work,_ including canvassing, in connection iritli'the new recruiting scheme. This is not the case. What tvo ask tlie members of local bodies to realise is that in a crisis like this, they have, as public men, a special duty in the Way of giving a lead to the community generally, .. and whatever system may be in operation for tho purpose of obtaining recruits, whether the voluntary system -or conscription, they cannot possibly divest themselves of tliat duty. L have wa,tched the English papers very carefully when reporting the working of Lord Derby's scheme, and I cannot recollect a single instance of a local body refusing its assistance. We expect :the members of local bodies to be guided by tho circumstances and conditions in the districts over which they exercise authority, to start the recruiting organisations -where they are required, and to keep them going as long as they are wanted, subdividing the" districts in any way they think proper,. always selecting the most sui£ fble men or women for the purpose of canvassing." I think if these facts are grasped, the difficulties -which have been anticipated l in certain districts— not_ many, I am happy to say—will rapidly disappear."