POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1549, 11 May 1916, Page 3

POLITICAL.

NATIONAL SERVICE,

The Bill which is intended and designed to ensure a full supply of men from New Zealand, in accordance with the promises of the National Government, has now received its finishing touches at the hands ot Cabinet, and will be brought down in a day or two. Its main provision will be on the following lines. Each district will be informed of the number of men that it is expected to supply, and the district will be responsible for carrying out that obligation. The measure does not aim at conscription in the ordinary sense of the term ; but it is understood that the system devised and put forward in the Bill is of a much simpler nature and more adapted to present requirements. At the same time, it is ot a drastic nature, and will, when in operation, absolutely ensure that the manhood of the Dominion capable of serving is either persuaded or forced to serve. The methods of compulsion devised will be aimed first at the single man without responsibilities ; next at the single man with responsibilities, and then through variou s degrees of married men. It’is not expected that there will be any considerable volume of opposition to the proposal, although lobby gossip suggests that a direct attack on the Defence Department’s administration will be made by a section of the House.