RECRUITING APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2701, 22 February 1916, Page 7

RECRUITING APPEALS

AT PATRIOTIC EXHIBITION

SPEECHES BY THE MAYOR AND DR. NEWMAN

The Patriotic Exhibition in. the Town Hall was attended by eminently satisfactory crowds during yesterday afternoon and evening. Ajnong tho afternoon visitors' were the pupils of several citv schools. . In the evening the recruiting organisation for Wellington Oitv.. set up under the Government's new scheme, made its first publio effort to obtain recruits, but without any conspicuous success that was immediately apparent. Speeches were delivered by Mr. J. P. Luke (Mayor), Dr. Newman, M.P., aud the secretary of the oomraittee (Mr. Martin); who is a returned soldier,' wounded in Gallipoli. What Our Boys Are Fighting For. The Mayor said he thought that the occasion was a' fitting one for iJie open-' inn of the Tecruiting campaign. Ho •knew that there were various opinions held about the recruiting Movement. There was the stubborn man who said: "I will go when I am called upon. to 20." There was the other man who said: "I will go when Tom Jones, or some other man, goes." Then, there were a L'reai number of men—probably a glowing number of mon—who said: "If the Government will bring in a law calling unon us all to go I will gladly reBDond to the call." (Applause.) He was one of those who believed that wo shonlfl not ask men to undertake work for the community in which all were not called upon to share. The Government had declared for the voluntary svstem, and they all hoped that the voluntary method would supply sufficient men to ensure an honourable victorv. and a lasting peace. But if the voluntary system was to bo a success, there must be no laok of volunteers. Thousands of our "boys" had sacrificed their lives in Gallipoli, not only' for the people in the Old Country, but for the people of New Zealand, He did not wish to talk of the horrors to which Belgium had been subjected, because all were familiar with the story, but lie asked the young men whether anv of them could contemplate such a state of things in our country, such inhuman treatment of the women of New Zealand. If. such were threatened everv voune man in New Zealand would rise up and fight to defend the' womein and cirls _of New Zealand. If that was the feeling of the young men thev should come forward, go into camp, and fit themselves to stand shoulder to 'shoulder with their comrades now at the front. He appealed to the men of Wellington to start off thiß campaign well, and show the Government that at least from this part - Dominion enough men wonld be offering to supply our nuota. When the personal canvass was paugurated, the committee would call m the assistance of women, and he was sure that the men of Wellington would give those women courteous answers. He had been told that the first time he approached a man he would get "a'bang in the eye." He did not .believe that. He believed there were a number of men who only needed to nave the matter put to them property 111 a heart-to-heart talk to be oonvmced that their duty was to come forward and fight. People were apt to say, What .have you done,in this war yourself?" He- came into this campaign with, clean hands. . He had two single sons. One was at the front now. His youngest son had served nine months at Samoa, and since his return had twice tried to get. away and had been, rejected. One of his married sons who had five children had been anxious to go, and his eldest son -was unfit for service, having been injured in an accident, some years ago. So that he felt that he could not reproach himself about his family's part in the '-war. (llear, hear, and applause.) "Why Don't You Co?" Dr. Newman said he saw in the "crowd a great many young men, and it seemed to.hun they ought to go. The men. at the front were calling them Why didn't they go? He.did not btn lieve they were shirkers. He did not ' believe they had "cold feet." Xhey -were merely hesitating, and he did not think they should hesitate any more. If they

did not go they .would be in the end compelled to go, and it would Oe much more dignified to go willingly. He' was sony to say that many young •■nen Here kept back from enlisting by. their fathers sjid mothers. There were jouiig men in 'Wellington who were ashamed to walk abroad in the streets, and they wore being kept from volunteering bv their parents. He would ask those ■parents whether they considered thev were playing the game, when other parents had parted with their bovs with aching hearts. Recruiting in 'Wellington had gone very well up to date— better than in any., other part of Isew Zealand—but of "late it had "gone a bit shallow," and more men must be obtained. He was surprised to see so many young men in; the hall, and he would remind them that they must not be slack in well doing. No recruit had now any excuse for hanging back. If a man had bad teeth they would be attended to. If a maji had' varicose veins, the Recruiting Committee would arrange to have them removed. No man had any longer any esouse for., hanging back. If he was well and strong he would be put through. All the young manhood of the country ought to rally to the colours now, because during the coming summer m Europe very severe fighting would take ploce, and it nas of immense importance that men should be got ready for it.

Everybody a Reorultlng Agon;. Ho would lik© every man and ©very Woman ill the room to become a re jruiting agent. In the streets, , in tho tramoars, in the ohurches, wherever they went, they should do their best to get recruits. There wore joung men who actually had the cheek to get engaged to a girl and say thoy could not go bo cause they were going to be married To the girl engaged to such a man he would say, "Drop him like a hot po tato; he io not worth thinking about it ho won't go and fight for you. He did not want to see conscription, because he believed wo should be able to get enough men without it. Ho would therefore appeal to parents, and to wo men especially, to send their boys to fight, and then they should pray to tho God of Battles to watch over them and send them safe homo again. (Applause.) An address was also delivered by Mr. Martin, who emphasised the need ol New Zealand and tho Empire for mora men. The Fifth Regiment Bond was on this platform, and the Mayor asked them to play while the recruits .came forward, 'Play them up to the platform," ho said, but no recruits carae forwtird. , The secretary of the Patriotic Industrial Exhibition states that the speakers this evening will be the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., Miss Beatrice Day, and Madame Boeufve. To-mor-roiv evening tho lady speakers will be Mrs. M'Vicar and Miss Holmes. Practical patriotism is being shown by tho Wellington Headmasters' Association, who are arranging to take the boys and girls of the fourth, fifth, and sixth standards to the Exhibition during tha'

week (three schools j»r day) to impress upon tho youthful mind the importance of knowing what is British, and buying and using only those goods that are made within the confines of tlie Em. pi re. (Inserted by Arrangement.) B. REGINALD COLLINS & CO., LIMITED EXCLUSIVE CONCESSIONAIRES, AULDANA VINEYARDS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The reputation of Australia for excellent wines has grown steadily in favour of recent years, and Auldana, one of the oldest vineyards in the Commonwealth, is fittingly represented by tt charming little exhibit, which is noticed immediately one enters the Exhibition Hall, of this vineyard's rarest and choicest vintages. In open competition with the old-world wine growers, Auldana has mot with distinguished success—even in France, whore champagnes, clarets, burgundies, etc.. are so Whilst much could be said and written about Auldana, it is not here intended to dilate generally upon the virtues of its perfect wines, out to bring before tho notice of New Zealandors—and thus assist tho object for wliioli this exhibition was promoted— the faot that large quantities of wines such as sparkling and still hocks (which were before tho war imported into New Zealand from enemy countries) are grown within the British Empire. The proprietors of tho Auldana vineyards, having lent special care and study to the production of wines of these varieties, guarantee tliem equal to any imported into New Zealand. Those_ really interested in fine wines will find it well worth while to pause for a few moments at this exhibit, where a member of Messrs. B. Reginald Collins and Co., Ltd.'s, will he in attendance, and will accept instruction's for small parcels of Auldana (special vintage) wines, which will be specially indonted direct from tho vineyards for each consumer. Exclusive Concessionaires Auldana Vineyards. B. Reginald Oollins and Co., Ltd., National Mutual Buildings, Customhouse Quay, Wellington.