NEW ZEALAND

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 52, 30 October 1915, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND

CONSCRIPTION URGED, STRONG FEELINtf !N DUNEDiN. PEK. I'ttKSS ASSOCIATION-. Dunedin, October 28. A large meeting of employers was held this everiiug to consider the question of forwarding recruiting in the district. The Hon. J. Allen gave a speech outlining the training being carried on and the further proposals in the same direction'. He stated that the demand on Xevr" Zealand during the next twelve months would be for 30,000 men: The following motion was carried unanimously:—"That this meeting recommend the Government to enforce compulsory service in New Zealand as soon as possible." The meeting a-lso decided to recommend alt employers, when'-filling vacancies on their staff's, 1 to 1 engage no man who is physically fit'and of military-age and without 'responsibilities, but that these positions be filled by returned soldiers or men precluded from going to the front. .

FUELING OF RAILWAY* WORKERS 'At a. recruiting meeting at the Hillside workshops to-day, the Hon. James Allen,'.Defence Minister, was bombarded with questions for about an hour. The men practically unanimously invited the Minister to bring in compulsory national service, at the same time stating that there were no shirkers at the workshops. A, : question which appeared to secure general approval was , how "could the j Government reasonably expect to get recruits when men volunteered and their places were filled by eligible men from, the Old Country and elsewhere ? ; The Hon. J. Allen: "I don't. I think 1 you must be wrong. The questioner: "You can find. it going on at Hillside and elsewhere in the service. The men feel I these things. The Government are not do-' ing their duty; they are humbugging the men." • ' - Mr Allen, replied that the department was not under his control, but as far as he knew the places of men who had volunteered for service were being kept open. The Government may have had to take on temporary hands to keep the works going. The Government would not neglect its duty to the- men who had gone to the front. An elderly workman informed the Minister that the card was in his (Mr Allen's) hands, and said the great feeling, of the sheds was that the Minister should, play it. Both.married and single, men wanted compulsion. The man w.ho v introduced the subject said: .!'There are no shirkers in this shop; the-men are perfectly willing to do their duty. They would welcome compulsion." Mr Allen: "I do not ivant to advocate compulsion." 'The questioner: "The men here want compulsion; that is the feeling of the crowd." - •' •• '■ -

THE WILLOCHRA ARRIVES. THREE DEATHS ON THE VOYAGE United Press Association. Dunedin, October, 30. The Willochra reached; the Dunedin wharf at 10.30 a.m. The condition of the men showed the sanguinary nature of the fighting by the New Zealanders early in August, many cases being the result of the night charge. One hundred, and twenty-four required hospital treatment. : . . There are twenstyfour 'cot-cases'," more 1 or, less serious. Ten of'these were brought ashore. Three!deaths occurred in: the hottest stretch of the voyage,- two |rom scftdet fever arid one from : dysentery. The names of the deceased men are:—Private Paterson (Canterbury), Private Williams (Wellington), Corporal Nichols (Dunedin). There are sixteen crippled men, but none have lost limbs. Two cases are fairly bad from paralysis, one man having lost the power of both arms. The Willochra had an excellent voyage and, as a result, the condition of the men' showed marvellous improvement. PENSIONS FOR DEPENDANTS. TWO APPLICATIONS TURNED . DOWN. Palmerston North, October 30. Tlie" Patriotic Society is PP ncerned with the question of pensions for fallen soldiers' dependents. The Mayor instanced a case of two delicate girls, whose two brothers who supported them went to the war, and both were killed. An application to the Board for pensions was unconditionally turned down. Tlje Mayor said it is a serious matter, and he thought it the,duty of the/Society to do something. He also, instanced another case ; of an even.more, glaring nature. It was unanimously decided 'to " thoroughly investigate . the cases with a view to taking further action.