RECRUITING CALL IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2723, 18 March 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING CALL IN WELLINGTON

PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN

REPORT BY CAPTAIN BARCLAY

LOCAL COMMITTEE FACES SOME PROBLEMS

An important meeting of the Wellington Recruiting Committee was held in tho Mayor's Room yesterday afternoon to report progress and'discuss future methods by which the modest young man might be induced to take up arms in defence of bis King and country. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. presided, and there were present - Messrs. P. Townsend, J. P. Ifelly Q R. Smith, B. Burn, Jas. M'lutoshl T Bush. A. Veitch, W. Hildreth, R. A Wright, M.P., C. C. Crump, and Captain Barclay. . The chairman said that he thought it time to call the executive together to see if thejr could not infuse a little more life into the campaign, for recruits. They had held meetings in the city and f suburbs at which they had the service of several good speakers, including several returned troopers ivliose definite and interesting statements had elicited great applause, •lhose meetings had been conducted with varying success. They could not 'r u £ f 6 ® eot ° f them from tlle number of recruits gained at the meetings,but that had been reflected in the enlistments at the Town Hall. He idmitted that some of the meetings had been sparsely attended, but they must pot be discouraged on that account- ! tncy must consider liow they could carry on more effective work in the future. He wished to thank the speakers at Hie various meetings for their services and also to pay a tribute to Captain n-f+w? • gentlemen associated ft ltb them in the Recruiting Office in S»ie Town Hall, who attended day after n , c i ,l . led oh Captain Barclay, bhtef Recruiting Officer, to read a report he had prepared. Town Hall Enlistments, The report was as follows:— i. number of men registered dat ? ™''#<> Town Hall Recruiting Office is 2373. The daily average liow 1 is about twelve, and that figure appears to be a'fair response, seeing that there wir : ? a s „ tead y drain on the City of elhngton for the last live months. Jho high average of 500 a month for t the hrst four months was due 'to the then novel form of appeal, and tho realisation that' a- four-weekly dispatch of Reinforcements instead of tho earlier arrangements, for an eight-weeks' interval necessitated ■. an awakening to realities. The monthly dispatch of i°P S i no,vr become a habit of mind and the novelty has worn .off. One satisfactory feature of the quality of the men offering for service is the reduced percentage of unfits—the. present rate for this office is about 23 per cent. If that rate is maintained it is a good standard of physical' efficiency. A general survey of the., recruiting in European countries shows a result of <!? per cent, to 26 per cent, in peace i tune, . * Standards Must ba Lowered. "As the demand for men increases, the standard will have to be lowered. In this connection two points deserve special attention: —(l) We are losing .gowl men owing,to deficient sight in the left eye. There is no sound reason that I am aware of for rejecting a man because ho cannot seo out of his left eye. Even as an infantry man he will be quite useful, because it is necessary to tiani ruin to close tho left ©y© "when aiming with a rifle—.by no means all easy ..accomplishment for the -unsophisticated; that difficulty is at once overcome. (2) The second point is tho vexed question of providing a man with glasses. Men have to bo .rejected who cannot answer the sight test without glasses, though these men are. otherwise physically fit. We cannot deal with this question effectively until there is a dofimte nilmg by a competent authority on the subject. Tho test chart Used in this office is the latest as approved by the Imperial War Office for tho vision test without glasses.

' Pensions By Right. ! The question of pensions is exercising the minds of many intending recruits, whb rightly hesitate in taking the step until they are satisfied as to the legal aspect of their rights, and that of their wives and dependents as beneficiaries. They want more than an undoubted good intention on the part of the Government. They ask for a straight-out assurance to be trauslatcd into an amerxlment of the Pensions Act. In this connection I have inquiries as to separation allowances, the new feature being as followsA widower with young children is quite willing to offer hxs services if the Is. a day for a wife, were' she alive, would be granted to whoever would have care of the children i» their father's absence.. There are numerous cases of this sort waiting for a definite answer. The request is>! reasonable and fair. Official Red Tape. ! "The Status of this Office.—-Under this head I desire to emphasise tile following:—The Group Office has apparently not yet grasped the fact that this office is in no way air adjunct or a suboffice. I consider the tactics of the Group Office are objectionable, amounting, in my opinion, to interference. Briefly, anything in the shape of dual control is impossible. If the new recruiting schemo '* to be a success in the City of Wellington all Tecruits for whom your committee is credited must be registered and medically and dentally examined in this office, or under its direction. It is obvious that the registration of recruits in all its aspects must be completed here if the work of tho Towii Hall and its records are to be of any value. "In the matter of applications for joining the ii.c.o. class, the question has come into prominence, the same attitude being assumed by tho Group Office as' above referred to; that this office must not fill in the necessary forms of application, but all cases to be referred to the Group Office, the alleged authority for this being that nebulous and evasive quantity . known in tho term, I 'Headquarters.' No further forms being forthcoming from tho Group Office on request for a further supply for use in this office, wo aro now having a. supply printed. Minor matters of an irritating and foolish sort can bo dismissed as ■unworthy of your attention for the prosent.

The Recruiting Campaign. "Since the opening of the recruiting campaign by your committee, meetings have been held and addresses delivered at the following localities:—Lower Hutt, liilbirnie, Roseneath, Khnndallali, Paraparaunui, TCarori, Courtenay Place, Boulcott Streot', Brooklyn, Newtown, and Wadestown. Though so far only ono name has been roaistered at the meetings as a result, this is not to ho taken as discouraging, for there is littlo doubt in my mind that the result of tho first week's work is seen in the 117 recruits registered in this office during that period. This result was duo to the creation of what may bo torined a 'recruiting atmosphere.' Your com mi ttco will no doubt consider what further stops should bo taken in the same direction to awaken that section of tlio public whose appreciation of the urgent need for more nmu is dormant. In regard to the work at Khamlallixh, it is , worthy of special note that somo canvassing baa beon dono thore, Kliandaitiah, jus jjraotwaHe sent all $ha strafe

able men. The residue are, with very few exceptions, married men. A canvass discloses the willingness, but the inability. of those men to set aside their right obligations and offer themselves. When the necessity arises they will not bu found wanting.

No Hold on Those Who Register, With regard i« badges and re-exam-inations of recruits who were rejected as unfit before the standard was lowered, it is presumable that when these men were first examined a full state-' nient was recorded on the man's papers by the examining doctor, and the record filed at Headquarters. A reference to those files will at once disclose the reasons for unfitness without any further medical examination or further expense. .The time has come when seriouß consideration should be given to the problem of devising an efficient method for retaining a hold of the individual after he has_ signed she engagement declaration. Tho clause as it stands is quite inefficient. No 'egal bond is implied. Tho, result under the existing method is pure waste, and one of the causes of shortage of recruits when drafts of men aro called into camp. The present system of providing f or y le nw^s of recruits, whether in the form of hospital or dental treatment, is offering, a premium to men who have not thj sense of honesty sufficiently cultivated or pronounced. ) "It is suggested for consideration that combined action be taken, in this matter by recruiting committees in tho tour centres or large cities to urge upon the Hon. Minister of Defence the early need for somo amendment in the wording of the clauses referred to. .there does not appear to be any serious difficulty in devising some means whereby this need can he met. Why not pay these men the camp rate of pay, viz., 4s. a day, during the interval between th o registration and the call into camp?

Those Badges. With regard to badges, much time is wasted m tho search for these emblems of loyalty. It is suggested that the present need he met by this office issuing a badge on its own account. Details can be discussed when the committee llaS considered the principle. Apart from all question of what may be termed 'official' sanction, it would meet the need of some distinguishing mark that a man has offered his services to his country. As a further, aid to recruiting, it is suggested that returned mvauded soldiers should be employed as recruiting agents. These men to be paid their ordinary, rate of pay, plus a bonus for every recruit secured." The Discussion, After the Mayor had formally moved the adoption of the report, Mr. Crump said that as the result of their experience at Khandallah the committee had come to conclusions on two points that would have to be settled before much good could be done. One was that pensions by right must be granted, and the other , was that in the case of civil servants, tho Government should guarantee to pay them half salary 'plus •incir military pay. Ho had written to. the Minister, and whilst he could not disclose the answer received that day, it was evident that when Parliament sits tho matter would be taken up. Xhe pension by right was going to bo helpful in getting recruits. Thero \vero a lot of young married men in his district who might go, who did'not tfimlt the Government was offering enough | inducement, and who believed that tho sooner conscription • canio in at once tho better.

Mr. Veitch thought Captain Barclay s report an excellent one. That they had not some hold on the man who signed on and was never seen again was a sore point. He often wondered why they could not give such men the s ""' ,n E> a s they did hi the Old Country, or bind him in some way. He could not support Captain Barclay's badge, proposal, holding that it would lead to confusion.

Mr. U. A. Wright, said Captain Barclay had made some excellent suggestions. As to the point he haa made about pensions by right {here would be.no difficulty about that! Ho had been told that a widow whose husband had fallen at the front, and who, being in good circumstances, did not apply for the pension, was granted it .HfftJiotik any application, which Micated thaff the Pensions Board was reconsraermg its position. The City Council was making up the difference in pay to its employees who had gone to the front, and the would nave to 'do the same. Theri were many men earning good salaries, who could not be expected to accept the pittance offered for the support of their wives and families whilst at the front. Matters had. reached that stage now when they must do it in order to get recruits. The open-air meetings had given tho best results so far, and he ! thought they should continue -along those lines a. little longer. ■ Mr. _ Luckio advocated more route inarching and band playing in the city to create the recruiting atmosphere, and commented caustically on tho custom of marching new recruits through the back streets to Buckle Street, when they should be met by a band and played through the main streets. He also stated that Christchurcli and Dunedin had not done so well in recraitino' because they had not always before khaki, and ha said that rethem tho example of men in cruiting would be greatly assisted if preliminary training camps could bo established at t,hose places (and others) into which a, man could go as soon as he passed the doctor. Personally he thought there was little to be gained by speaking in halls, as the men you ,wnnt did not go to the meetings. Above all, they wanted the co-operation of the women—more than they had at present. Too Many Badges. The chairman said that a mistake had been, made in issuing too many badges. There should, ill his opinion, bo only two badges, one for the man who had been to the front, and the other for the man who had enlisted or been >%>- jected. Tho man who had boon rejected because ho was medically unfit was not going to wear that badge hefoie his employers and women friends. As to giving a man the King's shilling, that point had been raised when lie and Captain Barclay had interviewed the Defence Minister a few days ago, and the Minister had informed them that under Lord Derby's scheme no money passed, and 110 bond was exacted at all —that was for the regular army, notthe new army, which was recruited purely on' a voluntary basis. With a view of putting now life into the campaign the Mayor proposed that they sliould hold open-air meetings in Mercer Street, and try ami obtain Beadnall's room as a place whero recruits could be examined right nway. If they had meetings thero every night, with a band in attendance, it could be made a strong recruiting centre. Ho also agreed that) there should ho more band-playing in the streets. He read <i letter from Councillor John Fuller, informing him that his firm luvl a fflm entitled "You," a recruiting story built round a scrap of paper. Oil this paper was the question, "W.lmt are von doing for your . jiQURtaf.U Mr. Fuller thoum it would

do good work, and offered its use to the committee. Mr. Luko also announced that a patriotic entertainment would bo given 111 the Town Hall on Wednesday next.

Mr. Veitch asked if anything had been dono with regard to tho original intention of cutting up tho City into small areas, and canvassing them. He thought that should he done by ladies and returned soldiers, and recommended the sohool districts as a working basis.

Mr. E. R. (secretary) said he had not received the register cards yet from tho Defence authorities, but belicved that Khaudallali liad been civoo. them. The Left Eye. Mr. Burn said that in Karori lie was going to try and get the mothers and sisters of those who had sent men to the front to do tho canvassing. With regard'to what Capt. Barclay had said abiiut refusing those men who had a defective left eye, he quoted the case of , a young man, wbo had been tlirice rejected on that score. He spoke of the matter to Dr. Newman, and he consulted General Henderson, who said that they must dismiss tho idea of tho possibility of them taking anyone so do fectivo. The reason, he understood, was that if the man were to meet with an accident to the other eye he would at once become a burden to the . others, and there was, he thought, a good deal of wisdom in that contention.

A New Point About Badges, Mr. Maddison condemned the badges, and said it was a pity that Captain feiiiison. s idea had not been adopted, lhe badges gave no protection whatever to married men with families and single men with dependents. Mr. Luckie said that Captain Barclay s Teport was so valuable that he suggested that a sub-committee should be set up to consider it thoroughly, and afterwards to make representations to the Government. A discussion on it at an evening, not an afternoon, meeting, would result in a great deal of good. i ;

Veitch thought tile Mercer (street proposal of the Mayor a good suggestion. On the motion of the Mayor ii ,v n s - resolve<J ; that members of Jie City Council present and himself should make the necessary arrangements for carrying it out. That was agreed to.

It was also decided to hold a special meeting to consider Captain ■ Barclay's report on one evening next weok. Votes or thanks were passed to Councillor Fuller for his offer of "You," and to the Tramways Band. Mr. Madciison mentioned that good work might he dole in those districts which had refused to set up recruiting committees. It must he remembered that where a district did not make up its quota it becamo a harder matter for the other districts to make up the number of men required. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.

MACKENZIE COUNTY RECONSIDERS ITS ATTITUDE

By Teleuraph.—Pross Aecvlatlon. ■ Tlmaru, March 17. rho Mackenzie County Council at a special meeting by a vote of five to three rescinded its resolution, carried on ■ March 3, refusing to assist in the recruitmg, and then unanimously resolved to assist, whilst of opinion that the only way to obtain the necessary numbers without interfering with the productive industries is by compulsory seivice. A petition from 85 ratepayers requested the change of attitude. NATIONAL SERVICE DAY RECRUITING RALLY By Telegraph—Press Association. x Ti . , „ Hokitika, March 17. National Service Day was held in fine weather. The proceedings opened with a- luncheon to returned soldiers, and men on leave. The Mayor presided. Tho assemblage included the Hon. James Allen and Mr. Veitch, M.P., the county chairman, the Mayors of Kiunara and Ross, 'members of local bodies, and military staff ,officers.

Tho toasts included "Defence Forces of the Empire." In replying, Mr. James Allen thanked the local Recruiting Committee for the invitation sent him. _ He said that at one time an expeditionary force of eight thousand men seemed- beyond our capabilities, but now the total number of men overseas and in training in the Dominion was fifty thousand. The increase in artillery was 250 per cent., and British guns were maimed by New Zealanders, and there wore also wireless operators, medical and 'dentistry corps, sanitary squads, and nursing staff, some of whom had heroically laid down their lives in the sinking of the Marquette, which should cause a thrill of pride in all hearts. .He hoped the recruiting efforts now ■undertaken by the meeting would prove successful. The Dominion's obligations must be kept, and our efforts must not be relaxed. If all the available men volunteered there would he no need! of conscription.

Mr. Veitch said the best the ablebodied men now in New Zealand could do for the returned wounded men was to proceed to the front and take their places. Afterwards there was a military procession in Cass Square, where further speeches were delivered by the Minister and others. ■

In tlie evening Mr. Allen received deputations on the Otira Tunnel and other local matters. He proceeds to Boss in the morning, returning to Kumara at midday.

"If I had my wav." said the Hon. Dr. R. M'Nab, in the course of a recruiting spcfclj at Ellerslie, "I would not allow one married man to go into the ranks until I \vaa satisfied _that he had made full and ample provision for his wife in case he fell, and until every eligible single man in the country had ofliered !his services,." .