The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. TARANAKI'S RESPONSE TO THE CALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. TARANAKI'S RESPONSE TO THE CALL.

Considerable surprise and indignation has been caused by the statement which Air. C. 11. Poole, M.P., is reported to have made to an Auckland Star representative concerning 'the result ef -his recruiting tour in Taranaki. Assuming that tiie member for Auckland West has been accurately reported, ive are told that the (Defence) authorities are a good deal concerned respecting Taranaki's failure to find its share of the Wellington district quota for recent reinforcements, and that a revival is necessary if future drafts are to be kept up to full strength. Mr. Poole also stated that lie had been asked to return to New Plymouth at an early date and deliver further appeals to those eligible to enlist. "The hesitancy of a good many is," says Mr. Peole, "due to the fact that men with practically no ties steadily avoid the recruiting office." The whole statement was neither more nor less than a travesty of facta, besides being a gratuiteus and undeserved slur on the patriotism of the manhood of thepiovince. Where this itinerant member ebtained his information it is impossible to imagine, but the least he should have dene was to verify it before condemning Taranaki, and especially New Plymouth (by inference) in order to emphasise his praise of what Auckland had done. We do not object to applauding the splendid response made to the call in Auckland or any other centre, but we take the strongest exception to the .misrepresentations concerning Taranaki. As a matter of -fact Taranaki's response to the call for men has, on a population basis, been far greater than that in any of the other districts. Of the total number of recruits that have gone from New Zealand, Taranaki has supplied onetenth, whereas, according to its population, the province should have only sent a twentieth. When an appeal was made for more men to fill up the shortage of other districts, Taranaki made up the shortage, and, instead of being held up for censure, deserves every credit for the loyalty and patriotism of its eligible manhood. Mr. Poole conveniently ignores the fact that Taranaki is in a development stage, and that its development together with its main industry (dairying) necessitates .he employment of a larger number of young men than is the case in old settled disi'icts. The people of Taranaki are quite alive to the necessity for keeping up the quotas, bat the fact that up till recently Taranaki was supplying double its number of men made a considerable inroad upon its available resources, and necessarily left a higher proportion of medically unfit men. The supply is by no means exhausted, hut the men are scattered and the present official arrangements for recruiting and medical examination leave much to be desired. We have no fear that Taranaki will not maintain its reputation, both as to quality and quantity of recruits, witloui Mr. Poole hay.

ing to return to use his powers of persuasion. At the same tune it would be interesting to know wlio has asked him to come back to New Plymouth for the purpose of applying the recruiting whip. Inquiry made of the responsible local agencies for recruiting and patriotic purposes has failed to trace the request, and after the way in which he has Misrepresented Taranaki'a response it would 'be no deprivation to the cause if he remained in Auckland. There are plenty or able and willing patriots in the province who are working and organising to assist the Recruiting Board, and it is "to be regretted that their work should be in danger of hindrance by statements such as those which emanated from the member for Auckland West. ,

THE SIXISISG OF DUTCH SHIPS. The latest phase of Teutonic madness has set th» nations wondering whether the dementia is natural or methodical. It may be a mixture of both, but inasmuch as it will add fuel to the already flaming wrath of America the effect will ba seen later. To torpedo two Dutch liners in two days, both outward bound, hag all the appearance of a deliberate act designed to provoke a quarrel with Holland, much in the same way as Aesop illustrates in his fable of the wolf and the lamb. 'Holland has up till recently been acting entirely in German interests, and conferred many advantages on the Germans by forwarding supplies of necessaries, but the tightening of the blockade has now practically closed, up that illegitimate avenue, so that Holland's utility as a forwarding agent has come to an end. The reward 1 which Germany metes out to the Dutch is to sink their ships, so that their trade shall not be carried on while Germany's is shut down. The London Daily Chronicle pertinently asks: "Are the Germans looking to the forcible occupation of Dutch territory, and hoping to seize Rotterdam as a centre of operations against the ntoßt Siated enemy? Or are they hoping to possess the mouth of the Rhine? Do tiiey imagine the Dutch will ultimately join n», and are the latest outrages their method of stealing a march on us?" The Dutch people are too phlegmatic te take other than a serious view of the affair, but the Dutch press probes the matter to its root and sees in the sinking of the two liners evidence of German enmity and a possible desire for a conflict. Germany has for years past had her eyes on Rotterdam with covetous intent, and at the first favorable opportunity would have laid hands en that port with its safe shelter. The fight in which the Allies are now engaged is quite a 8 much on behalf of Holland as it is for Belgium, the only difference being that Belgium has been violated, while Holland's time for the same process • has not arrived. The sinking of the Tubantia and the Palembang are incidents that demonstrate once more how utterly unscrupulous are German methods. Friend and foe alike are victims of her barbaric ferocity. It may be taken for granted that Holland will refrain from taking any steps that will give Germany an excuse for hostilities. Holland has everything to gain by maintaining her neutrality, and though she has grossly abused that neutrality in favor of Germany, she will still benefit most materially by the Allies' success. The British authorities have notified trie Scandinavian Governments of the tightening of the blockade, whereby neutral vessels failing to stop when signalled will bo fired upon. If these Governments are alive to their best interests they will assist Britain in her object. It must be patent, to them that any reliance on Germany would be suicidal. They have seen the Teutonic cloven feet exposed and should now know whom to trust—the protectors of the weaker nations or the oppressor. It is well that Germany is displaying her hand in s o open a fashion, thereby completely justifying the determination of the Allies to crush the Teutonic power for evil before establishing a world's peace.