DOMINION'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1916, Page 5

DOMINION'S PART.

LOCAL BODIES AXD RECRUITING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. "Some local bodies," said Mi'. Massey to-day, "seem to have got the idea that the Government expects them to do -all tli(< work, including .anvassing, in connection with the nev recruiting scheme. This is not so. In a crisis like this they have, as public men, a special duty in the way of giving a lead to the community generally, and Whatever system may lie in operation for the purpose of obtaining recruits—whether 'it be tile voluntary system or conscription—they cannot possibly divest themselves of that duty. I have watched the English papers very carefully, when they were reporting on the working ,of Lord Derby's scheme, and I cannot recollect a single instance of a local body refusing its assistance. We expect the members of local bodies to be guided by the circumstances and the conditions in the districts over which they. exercise authority, to start recruiting organisations where they arc required, and to keep them going as long as they are wanted, sub-dividing the districts in any way tjhey may think proper, and always selecting the most suitable moil or women for the purpose of canvassing. I think if these facts are grasped the difficulties which have been anticipated in certain districts—not man}', I am happy to say —will rapidly disappear.

THE RECRUITING SCHEME. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. Wellington, Last Night. "The work of the Recruiting Board is proceeding well," said the Prime Minister to-day. "A few local bodies liave not seen their way to assist, but the. responses in most cases have been all that we could desire, and I have' no doubt that as the scheme becomes better understood arrangements will work even more smoothly than they are doing now."

The Karori Borough Council to-night decided to assist in every way possible the work of the Recruiting Board, in the hope that the voluntary system will produce all the men needed, but the Conn; cil would give equal support to eompufsory recruiting if this were found necessary.