The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1915. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 10 December 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1915. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

(With which is-incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.)

There can scarcely be two opinions about the disclosures of the National Register being highly satisfactory. It makes the "More Men" position clear and removes the uncertainty about the suppply of reinforcements that may be required in the future. To many the detailed figures are an agreeable surprise, for when the project was under discusion confidence concerning results was not of a generally optimistic cjr Reassuring character. New Zealand, however, wanted to know just where she stood with respect to supplying the men that were being demanded of her without resorting to compulsory service. The National Register has furnished that information; we know now that although this Dominion has already given forty thousand men, who are either at the front or in the various camps undergoing training, there are well over twice that number of military age who have expressed their willingness to enlist, and to serve wherever the Empire may most need their 1 help. There are undoubted grounds for feeling some pride in the display of patriotism made by our people, not the pounds, shillings and pence patriotism, not the tin-lipped, leather-lunged patriotism, but the cool, calm devotion of very life itself to the Defence of the Empire. There was no enthusiasm of the recruiting meeting, no parade of military force and splendour, no importuning from recruiting officer, nothing but the plain realisation of duty, and a calm deliberate determination to perform that duty, be the risks what they may, as each brave man of the 109,000 signed his registration form in the quiet of his own home. New Zealand has become an example that Britain and all other parts of thy Empire may with incalculable advantage follow. The gratifying results of the National Register are being enthusiastically proclaimed in many parts of the English-speaking world, and while our enemies are chagrined and irritated, they most probably will in their mortification seek to minimise the importance of the fact that in New Zealand alone is another hundred thousand of the class of troops they already have experience of, only, waiting to be asked to don the uniform and shoulder the gun. The New Zealand National Register will be a fact in history for future generations to read. We can, at least, assume

that patriotism in Britain, Australia, Canada and other parts of the Empire is no less real than it is here, and when we realise on this assumption what the potentialites are for the creation of armies, there is no room for any pessimism ahout the future. This Dominion can furnish out of its little over a million inhabitants another 109,000 first class troops; it is easy to calculate what sort of an army the Empire can yet raise if each part of it contributes at the same ratio. There is just one really dark aspect of the National register, there are 34000 of military age who have refused to either serve at the front or help in any civil capacity. In this connection the Premier explains that these are largely composed of men who have a good and perhaps sufficient 'reason for their refusal. On the other hand there are without doubt, many shirkers who are willing to skulk like mean nr-vens behind brave self-sacrificing patriots. It is so obviously unfair, even to the most rabid anti-conscnp-tionists, that strong able men should be allowed to shirk their responsibilities The Home Government's household register disclosed that several hundred thousands of men were willing to offer their services, and that the flagrant injustice was committed of promptly calling up these men, and allowing the shirkers to remain. This fact was pointed out in Parliament when the subject was under discussion here, and those opposed to conscription urged the Government not to permit anything of the kind to happen. It has been said that the great and fundamental objection to the voluntary system is, not that it is ineffectual, but that it is always unfair, and wasteful. Mr. Massey has said that none of these objections shall obtain here. This conveys some satisfaction for it is almost unbelievable that the authorities will sanction 6\ wink at the calling up of married men with great responsibilities, while allowing the young able-bodied shirker to remain at home. We want a system of recruiting that is humane and just, and although we have said that voluntarism is unjust we realise that conscription is open to grave abuse in its administration.