CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1511, 17 February 1916, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE RECRUITING SCHEME,

(To the Editor)

Sir.— The public will have read, I hope with disapproval, the very drastic resolution which to day is published all over the Dominion as Foxton’s opinion of the Government’s proper and necessary attempt to stimulate recruiting in this country. The only argument put forward by the mover of the motion was a tirade against the so-called shirker whose children would, in the future perhaps, he the inhabitants of this fair land. Now, it appears to me that this “shirker” business is being a little overdone. There are certainly plenty of young men unencumbered who have not yet answered the Empire’s urgent call, and who would make soldiers quite up to the average of the previous drafts, but it is only a matter of bringing the position strongly before them and pointing out their plain duty for them to enlist. If, then, they still hold back the public sentiment should be so strong as to force them into the ranks. The present recruiting scheme is the result of the deliberations of the National Government and has been adopted by them as the best means to meet the present position, and surely it is rather presumptuous of the Foxtou Borough Council to condemn the scheme before it has had a trial. Conscription is a system ot raising troops that should be used only when all other meaus have failed, and if the final effort of the British arms is to be made with conscripts, cur cause can be looked upon as lost. Lord Derby was practically the strongest supporter of conscription at the commencement of the war, yet he has just finished a magnificent recruiting rally with results far exceeding expectations. May not a similar means result in such a response in New Zealand aud may we hope to yet see our conscrlptiouist Mayor leading the attempt to justify the voluntary system here. Yours etc.,

A. J. Keu,ow