"SLACKENING OFF."

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1917, Page 6

"SLACKENING OFF."

IS NEW ZEALAND DOING TOO MUCH? (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, July 10. A definite and outspoken demand for the "slackening off" of recruiting in New Zealand was made in the House of Re. presentatives to-da y by the member for Wellington East, Dr. A K. Newman. The speech was of particular interest because it is becoming apparent that a proposal for the reduction of reinforcements would receive a substantial measure of support from Parliament. The strength of the feeling voiced by Dr. Newman cannot be gauged with certainty, since many of the members are obviously unwilling to state opinions on either side at the present juncture. | Dr. Newman put his case briefly. He said that New Zealand was within measurable distance of the point where the continuance of recruiting would necessitate the reduction of production. The Dominion, he argued had already contributed more men in proportion to population than any other part of the Empire except the 'United Kingdom. It had gone far beyond its promises. Tlje entrance into the war of the United States and the, revival of Russian activity had now relieved anxieties as to the future supply of men for the Allied forces, and he was that the maintenance of New Zeatand's contribution of a couple of thousand men per month was far less important than the continuance of the production of foodstuffs, in view of the fact that a world famine was threatening. Britain herself had taken men out of the firing line in order to place them on the farms. "I believe we did right to send forward large bodies of men in the early stages of the war," said Dr. Newman. "Britain was in jeopardy, and New Zealand was in jeopardy. But the condihave changed. We have all taken a wrong view of this war. We thought it was going to be a short, sharp struggle. We know now that we were wrong. The war lias continued for nearly three years and the end is not in sight. Nobody can say when it is going to end. All we know it that the war is going to continue for two or three years. We ought to face that fact and make our plans accordingly."