"FORCED" MEN AND VOLUNTEERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2914, 28 October 1916, Page 10

"FORCED" MEN AND VOLUNTEERS

MR. MASSEY MISREFORTED. A news cablegram from England a few days ago credited Mr. Massey with having said that New Zoalanders did not want forced men to fight side by side with volunteers in tho New Zealand Army. This, it appears, is not a correct record of what Mr. Massey actually ' did say. The ActingPrime Minister (tho Hon. J. Allen) made a statement on tho matter'yesterday. "I felt," said Mr. Alien, "that this was so contrary to Mr. Maseey's expressed opinions to nio that I telegraphed him, informing him of what the newspapers reported him to have said, and asking him whether it 'was correct. I have tho. following reply from Mr. Massoy:—■. "Press 'report referred to incorrect. Said nothing that would bear tho construction placed on it in your telegram. What I said was that up till the present it had not been necessary to enforce tho Military Service Act, but that it would come into operation automatically when required. No mcii- ' tion was made of New Zealand not , wanting forced men to fight side by side with those enrolled under voluptaryism." Mr. Allen added that it was his wish, as he was sure it was Mr. Massey's wish,, that : no distinction whatever should be ihado between conscript men and those enrolled by voluntary cnlist- , raont.