The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1915. THE RECRUITING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1915. THE RECRUITING PROBLEM.

The urgent need for a sufficient and reliable number of men to take tlieir place in the ranks of the Allies has naturally emphasised the controversy on the conscription question in the Motherland, and has even caused serious attention to be devoted to the subject in Sew Zealand. There is. and always has been, an inherent dislike to resort to compulsion for securing the number of men to be placed from time to time in the ranks of the British forces. The matter has now reached a stage at which the culminating point has to be faced so as to ascertain whether voluntaryism will suffice or not. The question is one that is said. to be affecting the Harmony of the British National Cabinet, while it is certainly causing the workers considerable anxiety. So far the voluntary principle has met all requirements, and it would appear that a final organised effort is to be made to obtain the necessary recruits without resorting to compulsion. The Labor leaders have distinctly stated that if Lord Kitchener decided that conscription was necessary and the reasons he gave satisfied the party they would accept the fiat. But Lord Kitchener absolutely declines to be arbiter, as he 'considers it a political matter that does not come within the province of a soldier to determine. It la hie business to say how many mea he

requires, aud it is lor the Government to find the men. At the same time, the Secretary i'or War suggested a scheme for district quotas, but gave no idea as to details. Lord Derby, however, haa worked out a scheme having some similitude to that of Lord Kitchener's, hut based on a house to house canvas by district committees. Under this scheme, local committees will undertake the work of canvassing, calling personally on all eligible men as disclosed by the National Register returns. Very wisely he has, as will be seen by this morning's cables, laid down rules for the carrying out of this important mission. There is to be no bullying or threatening, but the agents are to politely explain the needs of the country, and to enrol eligible men who respond to the nation's call. Apparently, there is to be no endeavor to obtain an unmanageable number, but only sufficient to enaible the authorities to provide requirements from time to time with certainty, instead of having to put up with a hand to mouth supply. In order to do this it is proposed to form twenty-three groups, taking the unmarried men first according to age, and then the married men, if required, fourteen days' notice being given to the men of each group when their services aro required. Provision Is made in case equipment is not ready, and so that the men shall not suffer loss by waiting they will receive three shillings a day. This method of working by local committees was eminently successful in South Afrka, and it has many advantages over other methods. 3?or instance, any man desiring to go to the front can be encouraged and assisted to get there. If he has responsibilities at home he is helped with them. If his employer stands in his road influence is brought to bear to enable him to enlist without sacrificing his standing in employment or his" prospect of returning to his position if he should come through the war safely. Innumerable little difficulties present themselves in the course of a recruiting campaign, and it is the function of the local committee to overcome them. The committees will, of course, be in touch with the military authorities, and assuming they consist of the right of tactful people there is every reason to expect their labors will be crowned with success. This, states Lord Derby, is the I last effort of the voluntary system. It has met with tlio approval of all political parties, and it" is hoped that it will accomplish tile end in yiew. At the same time the authorities will do well not to mar the scheme by irritating red tape regulations. They should trust the people to rise to tie occasion, mereiy guiding the committees aa to the numbers required. There are few men who will wait to ibe forced to serve their country, and when the need is personally explained to each man and all obstacles to enlistment overcome, there can be no valid excuse for refusing to obey the call. The scheme is one that fits the spirit of the times, and is also one to which the Dominion authorities might well give favorable attention with a view to similar action being taken in New Zealand. As the last word in voluntaryism it is worthy of the cause in which it has been formulated—the cause of freedom and justice.