NEW RECRUITING SYSTEM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 65, 16 March 1916, Page 4

NEW RECRUITING SYSTEM.

DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. The question of recruiting was dir cussed at the meeting of the Taihape Borough Council last evening. The Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) stated that at th e last meeting of the Patriotic Committee, Cr. O 'Callaghan, of the Rang it ike i County Council, attended,, and asked that the local society should work with -him in the recruiting scheme. The Mayor further stated that the Recruiting Board furnished a roll containing the names of the men in the district but gave no particulars. He thought that perhaps the Council sh6uld ( ask the Patriotic Committee tmeet them and discuss the question. Cr. Bennett said that none could deny that thqre was a very strong fe. 1 ing of apathy towards the propose' and they must make up their minds dividually to take the thing properly in hand. It would be no good wastin the time of anybody unless one felt assured of the hearty support of everybody. Ht thought a warning no*, should be sounded right at the commencement. It would mean a lot o J hejrd work. The Mayor should be assured of the very hearty support of the Councillors. It would be no joke but a tremendous lot of hard wo- 1 Everyone would hav e to do his sha.re and not say afterwards he was too busy. Unless were all prepared to work they must leave it alone. He thought it a good idea for the Patriotic Co’mmittee to be asked to meet the Council. It would then b e fqr the combined committed to say if a public meeting should be called. Cr. Joblin said he did not see that they could expect failure. This district •had responded very -well indeed. If they failed it would be because all the men had volunteered. He, personally, was in favour of compulsion, but would do his best to assist.

The Mayor said the Council had-ca>-ried a Resolution to assist the recruiting scheme by every means in its power and it was up to the Council to .do its best. He cordially agreed. with what Mr. Bennett had said. A ma :; who accepted a seat on the Recruiting Committee must be prepared to put his private business aside. The Eangitikei County Council had gone to the length to offer to pay men. preferably returned soldiers, to go through the district. Ho doubt the district had done well, but. there -were hundreds of names on th e confidential roll. He would move that the Taihape Patriotic Committee and members of the Rangitikei County Council be invited to meet the Council on Wednesday evening next. The motion was carried.