RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1916, Page 4

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

MINISTER OF FINANCE AT IXVEIU CAKQILU By Telegraph,—Press Association. Invercargill, March 31. Sir Joseph Ward, who is in a recruit* ing tour in the south, received a •plea* did welcome to Invercargill to-day. H« was met on the station by the Mayor, the city councillors, and members of tha recruiting committee, who expressed their gratitude to him for again coming to Southland to help on the recruiting scheme. A great rally was Held In tin Municipal Theatre in the evening, every d>ortion of the big hall being crowded* There were about 2000 persons present. Councillor Bain, chairman of the recruiting committee, who presided, thanked Sir Joseph for coming to Invercargill. They all appreciated his pre* sence, and he was sure his address would, have the effect of helping materially in. the campaign they had undertaken. Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with warm and prolonged applause, delivered a strong address, his remarks being punctuated with frequent applause, He made a strong appeal for the voluntary system. New Zealand had done marvellously up to the present, and it i would be a grand thing to say after tha [ war was over that we had done every* thing required of Us without having to recourse to compulsion. (Applause). Some people thought that we could have conscription without exemptions, but that was impossible. There was trouble in England now in regard to the system established by law. There it was the exemptions that were causing the dissension. History had shown that Great Britain had never been ready at the commencement of war, but she had adways won the last battle—the decisive one. (Applause.) We had a splendid heritage, and every physically fit man who could get away should enlist to help to preserve New Zealand and the Empore. The splendid spirit that had existed at the Paris Conference was surely sufficient to make all those who were able to go answer "yes" to the «all of duty. There should be no lagging behind. Up to the present every reinforcement draft that had yet to go would leave our shores at full strength. (Ap< plause.) It was not the call of the Government; it was the call of the colors, the call of the people. (Applause.) The whole world would be changed as the result of the war, and the nation would have to economise. New Zealand would feel the change as well as other parts of the Empire. We could not expect to get the same price for our products 1 after the war as we were obtaining. There would be an all-round reduction of probably 50 per cent, six months or 8 o after peace ivas proclaimed, but in advocating economy hi did not wish to suggest that men should be put out of employment. Such a policy would be fatal to the country and would dislocate the whole labor and business world. The economy would have to come in connection with luxuries. We would not be able to borrow from England for perhaps Ave or ten y«RW sfttr the war was over, and Xew Zealand must see that she did not require to borrow. (Applause) .Then? was an enormous amount of work to be done, and he wanted to B ee this country In a strong position after the war. as lie believed it would be.* He"called upon tha southern districts to do their share in the matter of providing recruit*. It was not fair that Auckland or. Wellington should give more than their proportion; each district should do its full share. (Applause.) r As the outcome of tho herculean struggle that was taking jllacn the Empire would emerge greater, stronger than ever. The war was making for solidity. There would be moro of a partnership between the Old land and the outlying dominions, and representatives of the w*ar**a9 countries would be called in Hm «W*».«ltation and advice, whicli meant ereatness for the British Empire. (Applause.) Sir Joseph was heartily applauded on the conclusion of his speech, and he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of the Mayor, the resolution being carried by acclamation