THE RECRUITING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2727, 23 March 1916, Page 6

THE RECRUITING SCHEME

NEED FOR FULL ROLLS

IF COMPULSION COMES

MINISTER'S WEST COAST TOUR

Some observations on his recruiting tour of the West Coast and on recruiting generally were made by tho Defence Minister (the Hon. J. Allen) yesterday. "I had a very good tour over the West Coast," said Mr. Allen. "I found, the peoplo all very enthusiastic and very loyal in all the placed I visited — Greymouth, Hokitika, Kanieri, Moss, Kumara, Reefton, Nelson, .Blenheim, and Picton. They are all joining heartily in the Government's scheme. Some have gripped it a little bit better than others, but so far as I can judge they are setting to "vork to get their rolls ccmplote and their canvass made, as wo want them to do it."

Mr. Allen was asked whether the Government would take any steps to. direct the action of the recruiting organisation where, as in Wellington and Auckland, the Government's scheme is not being followed. "I don't know what we can do" said Mr. Allen. "We have sent out particulars of what we want in full, and we have asked the local bodies to help us. We should not have sent out these particulars unless we bad carefully considered them, and had thought the proposals we made were wise proposals. I want to say especially with regard to tho completion of the rolls, tho putting on the rolls of names ' which arc not now there —because the national register was not by any means complete—that this is an essential part of the work that will have to bo dono if we bring about compulsion later. We require the completion of the rolls for the personal canvass now, and wo shall require it equally for compulsion if it should come 'afterwards. Once our rolls arc complete, once they contain tho name of every man of military age, and particulars about whether he is married or single, whether he has dependents and so on —then wo have the material at hand to classify everybody, and to call them up according to their classification. That- is not necessary yet, but it would serve our purposes with regard to•_ the Category li men under our scheme, who will be called up in the order of their classes at 14 days' notice. ' A complete roll gives us the name of every man of military age, specifies the men already enlisted, and rejected as unfit, and tho men exempted, for industry, and then we have before us the men who ought to be enlisting. Those ave tho men we ought to have canvassed. "We can't compel the local bodies to help us, but wo do ask them to do so."

OBLIGATIONS OF SERVICE

ADDRESS BY HON. J. ALLEN

THE NEW REfJRUITINC SCHEME,

A special recruiting meeting and patriotic concert was held in the Town Hall ■ last night under the auspices of the "Wellington Recruiting' Committee. The.Mayor (Mr. J. P.. Luke) presided. An address was delivered by the Hon. J. Allen, and there were musical and other items provided by the Tramways Band, the 31st Company Senior Cadecs, the sth Regiment Drummers, and Miss D. Pearson (a pupil of Miss Estelle Beere). ' Among the audience were some 200 returned soldiers, under the command of Captain Donald Simson, and as they came into the hall the crowd cheered them heartily. The Mayor. The Mayor read telegrams of apology for absence from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. "W. F. Massey) and from Sir Joseph "Ward. He tendered thanks on behalf of the ! ' city to tho Tramways Baud for having come to help with the.concert. The tramway men were very busy all tho week through; but they were always ready to aid the recruiting movement. It was a fact that from among the tramway men a very large number had already gone to the front, and more were going. In this they had set a good example to many other bodies of men. Personally, he regarded the issue of whether a man should go to the war or not as a personal one, to be decided by the man himself, but. if he were ■ a young man free to enlist, and he did not go, he would not look forward "without uneasiness to the time when his children might ask him what he did in the war. The British Empire had declared for the voluntary system, and was adhering to it in spite of difficulties. Ho deplored the small attendance at the meeting, especially of National Reservists, who, he thought, should be in the hall'to help the recruiting scheme along.- Now it appeared that Auckland was far excelling 'Wellington in the matter of getting men, but as against ihat he contended that for months, past the Defence Department had been drawing from "Wellington district every man that could possibly be obtained. This was why other districts were apparently outstripping Wellington now. However, he ventured to say that "Wellington would still not be behind-hand in finding her quotas, but there must be no hanging hack on the part of young men free to go. To the young women he would say that the best servico they could render to the State was now to send their young -men to the war. He did not believe specially-in the efficacy of public meetings for recruiting, but there must be public meetings to keep up the intorest. If anyone would advise him as to any other method to be adopted or any other scheme to follow he would be only too glad to co-operate. He appealed to all to come to a realisation of the seriousness of the war, and to do their best to ensure the aim of ail— final victory for the Allies. (Applause.) Introducing the Minister, the Mayor said no man had had a more trying experience, no man had done more to bring New Zealand affairs before the. world in this groat war, no man had done more to secure efficiency in our work in the war than the Minister of Defence, the Hon. James Allen. Patriotism and Service. The Hen. James Allen said he wished to refer to one remark of His Worship —to removoany impression that might exist that Wellington or any other part of New Zealand was being .asked for more than its share. The quota for every district was fixed by the number of men of military age in every district, as shown by the National Register taken only a few months ago, so that whatever may have occurred a time ago, for the present and for the future the quota of Wellington was assessed fairly. air. Allen wont on to the theme of his address, which was patriotIsm, especially as expressed in sacrifice or service. He esteemed patriotism to mean at all times service, and especially so now. The men who had gone to tho front had rendered service—(applause)—and the men who had return-' etl from tho front had rendered service. (Applause.) They bore the marks of their service upon them. Perhaps some of them would carry for all their livos tho marks of their servico to their country and the (lag. What marks hatl we to show of service? He was porl'ectlvy well aware that many men and women had given all Ihoy had to give for the privilege 1 of rendering service at the front. Jinny euiild not git, ami :inioii» these wcro the women, Women were;

working, many .women ho knew had overworked, to help the men at the front or sick in hospital. Ho wished to say to those 'women who ivero not overworked: "Come and help those who are overworked." There were some men who were overworked" some men who had given freely of their substance in the service of the Empire. Somo could do more, and somo could give more, and lie ventured to say there was no greater joy to be felt by any man than be could feel in the knowlodge that he bad rendered all in his power in this time of national stress. We all ought to make sacrifice of our substance now, reading as wo did every day of the need for national economy. Wo should make ready to hear our part of the burden of this very costly war. T(;ero was need for economy in New Zealand. Personal Sacrifice. 'Die sacrifice to which he wished to mako special referenco was personal sacrifice, for the men above military •age, service bore at home. These men above military age must be ready to give an hour or two more of their time and more of their energy to keep our industries going and to keep our produets up, because these things were as necessary as arms in the war. But the special form of service which ho would ask of men who could not go was in connection with the new recruiting scheme; which was based on service. The Government was giving the voluntary system the last trial, and the trial must be made as thorough as possible in.order that if it should fail the opponents of compulsion would have yo word of valid objection. Either they must volunteer themselves , or* allow compulsion to' operate. This thoroughness could bo attained under the Government scheme. The city-should bo divided up into smaller areas' and canvassed street by street as if for a keenly contested election in order that all the men of military ago should be enrolled, and those not on. the roll should not be allowed to continue to ■shirk. (Applause.) _ Also, these rolls would be necessary if at any time in the future we should have to adopt compulsion. The object of the recruiting committee of Wellington should lie to got on to the roll the name of every iit>ii in its district, and to get off the roll the name of evory man who had left the district since the roll was compiled. The remnant of fit men who would not enlist should bo canvassed. If they would enlist, well and good. If they would not, they would have to lie dealt with _by compulsion. This task of canvassing was perhaps no happy one, but the end to'be achieved was the greatest possible.' If this organisation were completed here there would be. such an organisation in the oity of Wellington as, would ensure that this part of the country wouKi do its share towards fulfilling the obligation undertaken by New Zealand. Unity is strength. Above all, he-would appeal-to the people to sink all differences and to join hands in unity for • the purpose dear to them all. If they would do this they could look forward with confidence to the_future. They; could expect to have six months' reinforcements ready, waiting ahead all the time. In that happy position they could look forward without anxiety to the end of the war, and for us the end of the war had only one meaning—the end we desired, and the end we meant to iniposo on our foes. . This end . could come' only if we joined in unity. What an awful shame to New Zealand if wo failed to fulfil our obligations 1 What a frightful shame to the Empire if any.portion of it failed in its obligations at the present moment! If we did not all fulfil the promises we had all made to oiio another 1 If we stood together, determined solemnly to keep our promises, there could bo only one conclusion of the war. We felt at present that God had given us time to get ready. Our Empire was not ready at the beginning but time had been given to lis to get ready. Lot us not lose the grip we now had. Our task- was to supply so many men every four weeks. He would suggest that this task was also our privilege. When it was all over, and when the history of this war had to bo written, and if at that time we should be able to say that.this country found all the men it promised to'find, and found them at the sweet will of the people without compulsion, then, he ventured to say we should all be very proud of having done our duty in the best way wo could. (Applause.)' ' MEETING AT JOHNSONVILLE; A recruiting meeting was held in the Parish Hall, Johnsonville, last night, ovor 100 people being present. The Rev. P. H. Potrie was in the chair. Stirring speeches were delivered by Messrs. F. T. Moore and J. G. Harknoss. . The following resolution was unanimously carried :—"That, in _ order to obtain men for military service and for service in our primary industries/the manhood of New Zealand should be organised for national service, so' that those employed in useless and superfluous callings, and in occupations which • women can perform, shall bo released for duty essential to the successful prosecution of the war." At tho conclusion of the meeting Mr. Alexander Ferguson volunteered, for active service. GOOD RESPONSE IN AUCKLAND. .By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 22. Fifty-seven recruits enlisted to-day, twenty-nine being accepted,, fifteen deferred, and thirteen rejected; A recruiting rally was held at Newmarket to-night, when Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward spoke. As- the result a. number of volunteers came forward, and they were still being examined at a late hour.

A suggestion has been made that the Government' should set an example to private employers by calling upon single men in the Public Service to enlist. The question was briefly discussed by the Prime Minister. "A very large proportion of single men .in Government service have already enlisted," said Mr. Massey. "I am very sorry I have not the numbers with me, or I should he glad to give them. ,1 am quite certain the men in Government employ have set a good example to the others throughout the Dominion. I cannot, of course, speak for every man, but I am satisfied that there are not many single men left in tho-Public Service who can make it possible to enlist." ENLISTMENTS IN DUNEDIN. Dunedin, March 22. Roughly, 200 men have enlisted in Dunedin in the past two days. Of these ■147 have been medically examined, the astonishing feature being that only 36 passed as absolutely fit Thirty-one have been rejected as quite unfit for service, while 7(j have been deferred on account of teeth, eyesight, hearing, operations, etc. NEW ZEALANDERS ENLISTING IN SYDNEY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (llee. March 22, 9.q0 a.m.) Sydney, March 22.

A number of New Zealanders have enlisted here, giving as tl eir reason that tliey had heard that recruits in Sydney were sent to the front instead of'waiting indefinitely, as in New Zealand.