CONSCRIPTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1915, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION.

NO PRESENT DEVELOPMENT. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. Wellington, Nov. 12. "There is nothing more to be said at present with regard to conscription," said the Prime Minister (Right Hon. YV. F. Massey) yesterday. "In a few days we shall know the result of the war census which has been taken, and by the result the Government will be guided. I have noticed a disposition to be hysterical on this subject on the part of a few people already afflicted with cacoethes scribendi. We have been tolerably free from this sort of thing in New Zealand, at least as compared with other parts of the Empire, but if it is necessary for me to do so let me assure the people of this country, whatever their opinions may be, that the Government knows its duty and will continue to do it. "What New Zealand has already done has met with the enthusiastic approval of the Imperial authorities and those who are best qualified to judge throughout the Empire. That is no idle boast, but a plain statement of fact. Our men are acknowledged to-day to be among the best of the soldiers of the Empire, their training and courage have been the admiration of the senior officers of the British Army. Apart altogether from the territorials and senior cadets, we have 40,000 men under arms. This is something to be proud of. "Our obligations to the Imperial authorities for next year, or until the conclusion of the war, are 2500 men, say, every four weeks. This will include 9000 of the 40,000 I have referred to, leaving 31,000 or thereabouts to be found during 1910. That the Dominion can. and will, do this I have not the slightest doubtj if not by one method, then by another or by a combination of both. In matterß connected witli the war, the Government are, of course, working with the Imperial authorities, and cannot allow themselves to be affected by every opinion that may be expressed, but we are working all the time with one object, and that is New Zealand doing its full duty in assisting the Empire to bring the war to a successful and satisfactory termination."