NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1916, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

TOPICS OF THE DAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, March 29. AN ENERGETIC RECRUITING COMMITTEE. "Evidence of what can be done in furtherance of the Recruiting Board's scheme, when the task is taken in hand by a band of enthusiastic workers, is afforded by the labors of the Ashley County Recruiting Committee," said the Prime Minister to-day. "The Committee, of which Professor F. W. Haslam is honorary secretary and organiser, carefully checked its own roll in conjunction with the rolls of the adjacent local bodies, with the result that it has added to the original roll supplied by the Recruiting Board from the National Register nearly as many names as were on it originally. This is in addition to transferring to their proper rolls the names of men placed in error on the Ashley county roll at the original compilation. The Ashley Committee then completed its very excellent work by having its amended and amplified roll re-printed for the use of the canvassers who are making the personnl appeal. "I hope that many other committees will follow this example." added Mr. Massey. "The Ashley Committee, by following the directions of the Recruiting Board closely, has placed itself in possession of n complete and rt liable mil of the men of military age in its district, and it is now in a position to proceed with the personal canvass and to put ' complete information before the Government."

xHE COMING SESSION. POLITICAL GOSSIP. The Governor attended a meeting of the executive to-day, and the date of the session was fixed definitely. The day is not yet announced, but it may be stated confidently to be early in May. The Gazette probably will give exact information next week, unless the Prime Minister makes an announcement earlier. Gossip in political circles does not suggest that the session can possibly be a short one. The Conscription Bill, to apply a wther crude title to a measure that may not be any more sweeping in its effect that the British law has been, is sure to provoke a long and vigorous debate. It may even produce a determined stonewall. Perhaps that point will be settled by the progress of the campaign in Europe during the next six or ei'.'ht weeks t-'wee the most toirvin.vd supporter of the voluntary system will scarcely contend that New Zealand can avoid some measure of compulsion if the war is to continue far into next year.