A RECRUITING SPEECH.
MR J. MASTERS AT THE PICTURES. At the conclusion of the interval overture at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening, by kind permission of Mr Fred Foley. Mr J. Masters (chairman of the new Recruiting Committee) took the opportunity of addressing the assemblage on matters appertaining to recruiting. Prior to commencing his address, he 1 hanked Mr Foley for allowing him the privilege of saying a few words to the young men who had gathered there |that evening. Mr Masters said tiiat ihe would first'like to explain a few matters and his position in ciOtmec- ■ tion with recruiting. As one of the committee, and chairman, he'said, jit was his duty to do all he could in the way of obtaining recruits, and other members of the committer were doing [likewise elsewhere. He had a caos[sage to deliver from the Hon. the Prime Minister (this was then read as published in these columns). Proceeding, Mr Masters said he did not know what the people took out of it, but there was no doubt Mr Masseswas in the know, and lie took it that the fate of our Empire was in the balance and woe to the man who does not go and do his duty. Mr Masters said a few words to the mothers in the assemblage; "During last week 1 have moved about amongst the men of this town, and succeeded in getting some recruits, but some mothers are making it hard to a certain extent for ns. These times are time s of sacrifice, and it is harder for a mother to part with her son than it is for the father. I say to mothers: I sympathise with you, but don't on any account prevent your sons from doing their duty by going to the front, and when they come back you will be proud of 'them, and they will be able to hold up their heads." Continuing, Mr Masters said there were three essentials necessary in connection with the war, and they were men, money, and munitions. At the beginning of the war we were short of munitions, but we have abundance now, yet men are still urgently needed. Lord Kitchener said at the beginning of the war that it would last three years, and if we don't reinforce our troops, how are we going to win? We won't do it by'sitting at home on the "we-will-win-in-the-long-run principle." New Zealand is sending 2500 men each month, and if tbe volunteer system fails, what are we to do? A man would not like to meet his pal on the battlefield as a "conscript" ! No, not one would like it. It was a sacred duty, and the speaker said lie would do all in his power for the success of this war. Mr Masters pointed out that New Zealand had already ssent forward, (or in training) some 50,000 men, and a good number were from Taranaki. You meet them at the station and bid them farewell, he said, and be asked pointedlv, 'Why did you do it? Why don't you go yourself?". They have gone to fight for liberty, and relieve weaker nations from Prussian militarism! The speaker dwelt on the Gallipoli landing and the operations there, and said that many times the troops after strenuous fighting had achieved their objective, but could not hold it. Why, he asked: Because there were not sufficient reinforcements, if there had been, they would have been in Constantinople before now.—(Applause). Mr Masters: "I see a youngster laughing up there (dress circle) ; you should be at the front." (A voice: "Hub it into him.") Continuing, Mr Masters asked : What occurred at Gallipoli? Simply that many young men that you went to school "with, and worked with, have laid down their lives for their King and Country, and the spirits of your slain comrades are calling out for you to finish the work they have begun, Will you go ? Mr Masters said he had read a letter from a man who went with the main body. He was wounded, he recovered, and again went to the front; he was again wounded and recovered, and had the option of being sent to England or back home for rest. He said: "No, my health is perfect, and I feel 1 am wanted here." Can you stand that? You too, are wanted there. Can you see a man go back to get wounded a third time. Mr Masters stated that there were 122 young men according to the National Register who were eligible to serve, and assuming that 14 or 15 of that number were medically unlit, still over a hundred were eligible, and it was no credit to them for not going. The speaker impressed upon his audience the need for men. The war was never so acute as it was to-day, he said, and when the war is over, and the men come back, how can you meet them ? If you refuse to go and do your duty, you will never be able to lift your bead. It i s a duty you owe to your mother, father, and sister. You read of the horrible atrocities committed by tiie Germans, and you should remember this: That if the Germans were to set foot in New Zealand, your sister would be placed in tbe same dreadful position. The sanctity of your daughters to you, mothers, is above rubies. In conclusion, Mr Masters said it was his intention to see every young man eligible and ask him to come forward voluntarily and enlist. Is there one here to-night, he said, who will come forward? Xo! not one! Remember this! Tf you don't go voluntarily, you will be compelled to go later on.
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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 76, 6 March 1916, Page 7
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958A RECRUITING SPEECH. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 76, 6 March 1916, Page 7
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