The Pukekohe & Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1916 THE CALL FOR MEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 158, 24 March 1916, Page 2

The Pukekohe & Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1916 THE CALL FOR MEN.

"We nothing exienuaie, nor let down auaht in malice."

in his recent speeches the Prime Minister, Mr Massey, has made it apparent that if the voluntary system fails to provide the necessary number ot recruits some form of conscription will be enforced, and to that end the Franklin County Council, together with other local authorities in this district, is asked to compile a reliable and accurate roll of "eligibles." At the present time New Zealand has no less than 50,000 men at the front or in training, ana reinforcements are required at the rate ot something like 2150 a month. These reinforcements have been pledged to the Imperial authorities, and New Zealand is in honour bound to find the men. The Prime Minister feels certain that the remaining manhood of New Zealand will respond voluntarily to the call. He trusts that it may never be necessary to bring in compulsion to fulfil our obligations to the Mother Country and to the men in the tiring line. It is for all to unite and render the compulsory system unnecessary, but, as the Minister explained, if the numter3 are not forthcoming by this means they must be secured io other ways, namely, by some form of compulsion. The call at the present time is to single men without dependents. It will come later to other sectiors of the community, and unless they are prepared to do their share in their turn they have no right to complain about single men not going now. The eligible man who has not enjistcd has to tace the scorn of those people whose numbers are daily growing larger. This is enough to make any man's position most uncomfortable, and must purely bring him to think that there must be something wrong with his attitude. The force ot public opinion can do an infinite amount of good if it brings to unenlisted single men a realisation of their responsibilities to their King, their country, and to the braye men who, by the Ea.cririces they have made, have given New Zealand an honoured place in the Empire to- i day. It is remarkable, but it is ( nevertheless true, that there are I'

still some men who, for one reason or another, have not realised the urgency of the call. They have not come to see *vhat a deadly struggle for very ext3tenc2 this war 10 illy is Defeat means disaster. I'he horrors of Belgium and of Serbia will be ours. Fifty I thousand men have done I heir duty, thousands have made the supreme sacrifice for their country, but all the nobis work will have been in vain if the rcitilorccments do not eou>e forward in Buliicient cumbers to carry the jrreat task to a successful issue. iJanv 3 mother's son lies under the toil 05 Ga,iipoji ; but they would rather have il t»o Lban that their sons should llv* here in dishonour. It rests with tnc 111211 »hv have not yet enlisted to ensure that those who have fallen iiave not died in vain.