MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 1

MERCER.

THE RECRUITING PROBLEM

The matter of supporting the recruiting movement was given lengthy consideration at the monthly meeting of the Town Board on Tuesday evening last, the members present being Messrs G. Morgon (chairman , H. S. Valentine, M. Gallery and Watkinson. The chairman, Mr G. Morgon, expressed the view that a personal canvass for recruits should be made by members of the Board and said that although he could ill afford to spare the time he was nevertheless prepared to take an active part. Mr Valeutiue favoured conscription and proposed that ike clerkshould inform the Government that it was the Board's opinion that conscription should be enforced as the only equitable way of dealing with the question. Mr Gallery seconded. The chairman moved an amendment that a personal canvass be made, the names of those declining to enrol to be forwarded to the Minister of Defence. In speaking to the amendment, Mr Morgon considered the Board should be guided in the matter by tho Cabinet, which made the request that conscription should bo avoided as long as possible, He suggested that party feeling should be dropped and action taken to assist the thousands of soldiers who were fighting the battles of this country. He would not favour couscription being biought into operation until every other possible scheme had failed. It was his opinion that conscriptionists would not meet with a favourable reception at the front from the " boys." The only argument he conceived in favour of conscription was the fact that the British were the only country that hud not resorted to conscription.

The amendment was not seconded and on the motion being put to the meeting Mr Valentino voted for and the chairman against, Messrs Gallery and Watkinson refraining from voting. Mr Watkinson, however,' stated that he did not favour conscription nor could he see how any more recruits could be enrolled from Mercer even if conscription was brought in. The chairman, however, withdrew his opposition and Mr Valentine's motion was adopted.