THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1915 THE CALL OF THE EMPIRE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 98, 20 October 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times

PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1915 THE CALL OF THE EMPIRE.

" We nothing extenuate, nor tet down auaht in malice

The Official Organ of: The Franklin County Council. The Pukekohe Borough Council. The Tuakau Town Board. The K&raka Road Board. The Pokeno Road Board. The Wairoa Road Board. The Papakura Towu Board. The VVaikato River Board. The Mfroer Town Board.

It is an undoubted fact that in New Zealand, as in every other part of the Empire, a very considerable proportion of eligible men are not taking part in this war of existence into which we hive been forced, but are throwing the whole burden of military service upon a patriotic minority. As the war goes on it must become clear to every one that we may need every man who can be recruited and armed. We are committed to the responsibility of keeping up tne strength of the forces we have Bent to the fro.t, and to this end we must so recruit and train our young men that they shall be ready to reinforce our army abroai at the right moment and have adequate training before they go our. We have reason to believe that up to Ihe present our reinforcement system has not been as effective as it ought to have been, and we know that at the moment the Defence authorities are faced with the prospect of a shortage in the number of men required for the Tenth Reinforcements. Undoubtedly the response of all classes to the call to arms has been splendid, but we have got to recognise that that response has represented the sacrifice of the willing, and has included a not inconsiderable proportion of married men. We are pledged to provide 2500 rectuits a month and as the scope for voluntary recruits contracts it will become harder every month to keep up the supply. The Mother Country had to meet and overcome a crisis of ammunition: we cannot afford to risk the infinitely graver danger of a crisis of personnel. If such a crisis were to come upon us it wculd be too late to amend matteis, and wisdom decrees that any action neceesiry to avert such a crisis should be taken now. Ihe National Register naw being compiled is not necesanly the prelude to compulsory service: it is rnerely a measure of the commonest prudence, called for by the extreme and increasing severity of the contest in which we are taking part, by our obligation to keep up an adequate supply of men until the end of the war, and by the serious doubt whether voluntary service can continue to bear the strain imposed upon jt, A call upon the general body of unmarried men is demanded with insistence by the brave men who are fighting at the fnnt. The National Register will pave the way for whatever step it may be found necessary to take in tbe future.