New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 14, 20 December 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

THE QUESTION OF CONSCRIPTION. Per Press AssociationAuckland, December 19. The Minister of Defence, interviewed yesterday, stated emphatically that he did not think there was the slightest likelihood of local or receiving camps being established. “Such camps cannot produce efficiency,” he said. “We have not the staff nor the equipment. The results of the present system are extremely | satisfactory, and I should be doing a wicked wrong if I attempted to destroy it.”

The Minister wept on to explain that it was very difficult to obtain officers for training men, and with local camps, increasing the need for such men, the difficulty would be increased. The Minister emphatically denied that he had said he would call on the willing men first for service. What he had said was that a number of men had stated they were willing to serve under the voluntary system, and they could not be compelled to

serve. Referring to unwilling ‘men, the Minister said that the pqsition was not as bad as it seemed, and he gave figtires of the analysis of 500 cards (recently published). He said that the analysis showed that many men were medically unfit, and others had ties which did not permit of their serving. It was not right to prejudice the men. Some might be shirkers, but a great many were not. The Minister went on to foreshadow a new scheme for recruiting. The main principle would be personal contact with men by recruiting committees. At present Wellington had a splendid recruiting committee, and Canterbury was preparing a good organisation on similar lines. The projected scheme might include local bodies as recruiting committees. There was need for more committees and coordination of effort.

Asked if the system of the North in making good the shortages in -he Sopth was fair, the Minister said that in the past the basis of quota assessments was wrong; in the future assessments will be based on the actual returns of the National Register, “and I shall expect everybody to do their share.' Up to the end of October. on the basis of the military register Otago had done its share.” The Minister could not say if there was any likelihood of Parliament being called together to consider conscription. Certainly, he said, it is unlikely so long a s the voluntary principle fulfilled requirements. Conscription would involve a question as to who should go to the front and whb it was essential should remain at home. Even now certain industries, such as woollen mills and coal-min-ing. were being protected. The voluntary system, even with discrimination jfcihe itiatter of enlisting workers, did

mit possess all the advantages of conscript||li, but he would not enter, into a comparison of the advantages of the two Systems. The Minister said there was every likelihood of free railway passes being granted returned soldiers. He refused details, but said that instructions would be issued by circular in a few days.

TWELFTH REINFORCTMENTS. NEW SYSTEM IN ACTION. Per Press Association. Wellington, December 20. The new quota basis has been introduced by the military, and it has already been put into operation for the calling up of the Twelfth Reinforcements. The National Register has also been used, and districts have been called upon to supply a percentage of the total draft, which agrees with their percentage of men of military age, who filled in the National registration cards. These are: Auckland 27 per cent., Wellington 33.8, Canterbury 23.2, Otago 16. It is understood that the Twelfth will be 2220 strong. So the numbers required from each district will be Auckland 599, Wellington 751, Canterbury 515, Otago 355. ‘ Wellington is in the peculiar position of having enough on the books for the Twelfth, but yet has not found its quota for the Eleventh draft.