CALL TO ARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1915, Page 4

CALL TO ARMS.

The North Otago Times of Monday last has sonic severe, Imt apiiipus, remarks to make ahont the slacker who will not enlist, and the article is worth limiting, as it applies to many towns in the 'Dominion. Our contemporary says:

On Saturday afternoon a most touching incident was witnessed at the railway station. A young woman with her babe in her arms was farewelling her soldier husband. There was gladness' and pride in the woman's eyes, but a look uf sadness, almost of anxictv. iviii • on the lace of the khaki-clad stalwart, who had responded to his country's cull. All too snon the time for departure came and amid the cheers of various groups ' the train hurried out of the station, and the brave little woman walked briskly a way to bear in silence, alone with hi'ibabe, the months of anxiety and loneliness before her. Why should thai muu leave his home and'loved ones to '«o forth to face the dangers of the great conflict? Dozens of strong young men who parade the streets of Oarnaru ,an supply the answer. That man sacrifices everything dear to him because the young men of Oarnaru are shirking their duties. While there are physically tit yonn.tr men in this district, without dependents, it should not be ljhec.-,sary to send married men. Last evening in Thames Street a press gang could liavo netted dozens of young men who are (lodging their responsibilities Under the verandahs they sheltered from the rain, apparently unconcerned that their very inaction was besmirching the "fair name of Otago. It is becoming painfully obvious that the voluntary system ia breaking down under the strain of supplying the monthly reinforcements. As we pointed out a few days ago, the young men of Canterbury aiid Otago arc disgracing their sex and bringing discredit upon the fair name of Britisher. The young married man who went forward on Saturday should he an inspiration to his fellow-townsmen. But they shirk their duties in a most nonchalant fashion and apparently will not "do their bit" for the nation without compulsion. There is a growing fetling against the young men wlio will not enlist. This feeling is manifesting itself in the attitude of the Jocal bodies in different parts of the Dominion towards their employees, in a movement among cricketers and athletic, bodies; indeed, ! in the realms of work and play the 1 man who shirks his duty to his country and to his fellow in the firing line on Gallipoli is being banned from business circles and from the sports ground. If the voluntary system is to succeed, everyone must help. "To make a voluntary'sys tern a success at such a crisis as this," Lord Derby recently wrote, "really means that every man who would in a conscript, country be taken compulsorily should offer his services voluntarily, anil to those who have hitherto hung back from enlisting, giving to themselves reasons for not so doing, 1 would urge that they should ask themselves the following question:—'ls the excuse that I give to myself for not joining ono which would be held to be effective in a con- ' script country?' Let them give themselves an honest answer and act accordingly." It is perfectly clear, however, that despite all the entreaties and agitation, the young men of military age and fitness should not be permitted to shirk their duties to the country. They must light, if not willingly, then as conscripts. That aspect of recruiting should be im-> pressed upon the young men of Otago.