WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 6

WAR EFFORT

“ DEFINITELY NO CONSCRIPTION ” STIMULUS TO RECRUITING PARADES TO BE ARRANGED “ The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) pointed out that the Government had no intention of bringing in conscription,” said Mr Arthur Macdonald on his return from Wellington, where he represented the Mayor (Mr .A. H. Allen) and the Otago Rercruiting Committee at a conference of recruiting organisations which was held there last week., “ Rumours are gaining ground, however, to the effect that conscription cards are being printed now and will be issued in March, ami subversive propaganda of this nature is seriously hindering recruiting. Conscription definitely will not be introduced in the Dominion bv the Government, and as thousands of men are holding back in the entirely erroneous belief that compulsory service will come the sooner they banish that from their minds the higher recruiting figures will reach." One reason why recruiting in Otago and Southland was disappointing, said Mr Macdonald, was that, locally, there was nothing in the way of military activity, such as camps, to stimulate the mind o'? the public. That fact had been appreciated by the conference, and it had been arranged that special troop trains from Burnham would come to Dunedin and Invercargill, and there would be parades of the troops through the city streets on a large scale. Arrangements had also been made and would be put into action soon to run excursion trains from Dunedin to Burnham at a very low cost to travellers to enable them to visit their friends and inspect the camp and its facilities. The idea of the Recruiting Committee in Dunedin, said Mr Macdonald, was to rouse the public from its apathy. The Government had set aside £IO,OOO for the purpose of recruiting generally, and now this country was on the brink of a concentrated drive to obtain recruits.

It was a complex among the people of the Dominion that the response to recruiting appeals was poor, he continued. This was definitely wrong; the reverse was the case. Including the air and naval forces, there had been almost 40,000 men who had contributed to the Dominion’s war effort in five months. This response was far greater than for the corresponding period in 1914. By February 13, 27,341 had registered, 17,701 had been passed as fit, 4201 were waiting medical examination, 13,759 had been posted to camp, and 2125 were classed as fit and available for the third echelon.

What made a deep impression at the conference of the recruiting committees was the complete harmony and understanding that existed between the Labour and National Interests, commented Mr Macdonald. AH the decisions were reached unanimously. He added that the delegates had visited Trentham and were deeply impressed with the spirit of the troops, and also the facilities that were provided for them.