MR. MASSEY IN THE MIRARAPA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2738, 5 April 1916, Page 6

MR. MASSEY IN THE MIRARAPA

ENTHUSIASM EVERYWHERE

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Mastertoiv April 4.

'' The Right : .-Hon.;.W.'" _F. Massey, Prime Minister''arid Chairman of the Recruiting Board,- left Wellington , by the early train this .morning, accompanied by the secretary of the Recruiting Board,- and had a most successful recruiting tour through the Wairarapa, concluding with a monster meeting at the Town Hall, Masterton, in the evening, and a-still larger open-air gathering, advantage being taken of the crowd who bad assembled to hear the announcement of the results of the local Queen Carnival, to make 'a strong.and direct appear for. recruits. -.-Mr. .Massey was-met at Featherston by and the chairman., and members;, of,the Featherston .Town.', Board land. Recruiting Committee, and lie f undiscussed .with tliem the details ■ pf-thV'-bpard's new oclieme._ The xohference'was most'-'successful in re.'hibviiig'dbubt^'and/difficulties_that had arisen in connection with, recruiting, and before Mr. JMassey left an assurance Was given that, the board could rely on the steadfast and wholehearted 'support of the local committee. \ From'-Featherston.Mr. Massey proceeded by" motor to Martinborough, where he was received by a large and representative, gathering of the member's 'ofrthe Town; Board and Featherston County/Council;, Sir W. C. Buchanan, .M.lilOJji' alsoVbaihg present. The chairman of the Town Board (Mr. A. 0. ConKidine) and ,the county chairman (Mr. M^Leody-tendered a'hearty welcome to the Prime Minister, and the resulting conference was most successful in leading to a complete understanding with respect .to-, the new scheme, and here also Mr. 'Massey was assured that the board could rely on tbe united support of the combined local authorities of tho Lower Wairarana districts. At both Featherston and Martinborough, a voto of thanks-to the' Prime Minister was carried by acclamation, on the motion of Mr. Hornsby, M..P. On tho return journey a stop was made to inspect the new training camp at : Featherston ■. _ Mr. Massey and his party were received by liieut.-Colone] Adams, Camp Commandant, and Colonel Gibbon, Chief of the General Staff, and shown- round an institution which is an absolute model of its kind. The largo body of men now in training were seen carrving out. their different duties, and really, after a tour of the camp, it ia not difficult to understand the enthusiast" which the soldiers display for tbe soldier's life; in fact, the oninion was expressed that thorn wonld_ be no lack of recruits for the Expeditionary Force if the eligible men of New Zealand could bo taken on a.tour of inspection to the two model training camps of the Dominion.'; "■■ -;'

•Erom'the-camp/Mr. Massey proceeded'to Grc'ytown.".:where notwithstanding the inconvenient hour at which the meeting was held in the afternoon, ho addressed a larpe : gathering in the Town Hall, the Mayor presiding. The Prime -Minister subsequently_ met tho members of th«- local recruiting committee, and discussed details of the

scheme with them, a most satisfactory understanding being arrived at. A call was then mode at Carterton, where Mr. Masscy met the ropresenta-. tives of tho local Borough Council and the South Wairarapa County Council, the Mayor, Mr. Hornsby, M.P., presiding. The question of recruiting was fully discussed; and. Mr. Massoy left with an assurance that full effect would be given to the board's scheme. Masterton was reached about 6.45 p.m., and the Prime Minister was welcomed by Mr. Sykes, M.P., and tho membors of the Borough and' County Councils and the Patriotic Committee. The Mayor, Mr.. Coradine, was unablo to bo present, owing to illness. Both the meeting in the Town Hall and the open-air gathofing were a marked success, the greatest enthusiasm' being dis. played in his several addressed throughout the districts.' The Prime Minister referred to the very fine response that had already been made in the -Wair** rapa to tho Empire's call for men, and in emphasising' the urgent' need_ that existed for, a steady flow of recruits to enable this Dominion to fulfil its obligations, he said ho : folt sure there would be no slackening in the efforts of the committees organised in this district, or in the rest of the Dominion, to provide the necessary quotas for. each Reinforcements draft. There 'can be no doubt that this visit of_ the Prime Minister's will give a great stimulus to recruiting throughout the Wairarapa, and it is equally certain that the personal canvass provided for under the : board's scheme will be carried out until every man of military age in this large district has been accounted for,. .-•'.■ VOTE FOR COMPULSION _ INCIDENT AT MASTERTON. 'By Telegraph.—{Special Correspondent.! Masterton, April 4. The Prime Minister addressed the local,bodies at Featherston, Martinborougli, arid Carterton to-day in regard to the recruiting scheme. He also addressed public, meeting's 'at Greytown and Masterton.' •■ The hall at Masterton was crowded, and Mr. Massey was enthusiastically received. Mr. T.-.M. Wilford, M.P., also, spoke, and at the conclusion of his speech called for a show of hands of those in favour of the continuation of the voluntary, scheme. There was not a single response. Then he called for a show_ of hands of those favouring compulsion, and hundreds of hands were heTd up. Resuming his seat, Mr. Wilford said: "There is your answer, Mr. Massey . r . The meeting concluded* with cheers for'the speakers and the singing of the National Anthem. AUCKLAND'S QUOTA. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 4. By the noon express 32 mounted riflemen left for Featherston. By a special train this' afternoon '275 infantry left for Trentham. Country quotas join the.train en route. The men dispatched from Auckland .City are 47 in excess of tho number required. The Wairarapa' quota of the Fifteenth .Reinforcements, • which was twenty-seven men short was given a hearty send-off from the Masterton railway station on Tuesday morning. The Masterton Silver Band headed a procession to Sie railway station, and: rendered appropriate music Soldiers' snapshots developed and printed at Bagley's Pharmacy, Featherston. 'All photographic supplies at city prices.—Advt. '