RECRUITING AT ZERO.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1917, Page 8

RECRUITING AT ZERO.

■ 1 SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA. ■ , REFERENDUM EXPECTED. < (Auckland Herald Correspondent). Sydney, Sept. 17.

Recruiting has known many ups and downs in Australia, but it seems to be near zero now that) at' any other time since the war started. All the attention of tlie Australians is concentrated on the industrial troubles within their borders, and they have little beyond occasional thoughts for the events on the European battlefields. There are said to be between 100,000 and 200,000 fit and eligible single men in Australia who absolutely decline military service. Having seen the stribj processions in Sydney, and the volunteer workers, one can quite believe it. Tho long columns of strikers, who march along howling revolutionary songs or mouthing insults »t all men and things that do not meet with their approval are mostly lusty young men who do not seem to carry tho responsibilities of ft family. The volunteer worker, however, contain much the samo proportion of young men. But their bearing is so different from the arrogant hooliganism of tho strikers that they mostly escape criticism.

The chairman of the Xew South Wales Recruiting Committee, Professor Macintvre, in expressing a very gloomy view of "the position of recruiting, said it was manifestly impossible that we could take a lively interest in the prosecution of the war while we were fighting within our own borders. He was conscious of a distinct cooling of enthusiasm in many directions, and at times it seemed as if the thermometer went down to zero. People almost resented being reminded that we were fighting for th« freedom of the world and the future of Australia on the soil of France, and that Australian soldiers were there, needing every man we could send them. However, the more slackening of interest, the more need to counteract it with increased enthusiasm. The work of securing reinforcements for our men at the iront eould never cease till the war ceased. He trusted that the mind of the community would again grasp the yeal issue.

The new Federal Government is protionscription, but it is pledged not to bring in conscription unless iiy a referendum. The Government hat feared to bring in conscription, even under the authority of a referendum, because of the hostility of Labor, completely organised, very powerful, and pledged to resist conscription. But now conditions 'have greatly changed. The gieat Labor organisation, which had its centre in New South Wales, has chosen jo dissipate its strength in a stupid 'light with the New South Wales Go vet# ment, in which it lias been so soundly beaten and discredited that it lias lost its influence and its power. And that (is why Federal Ministers have recently given a very definite impression that there will he another referendum before this year is out.

. A new scheme has been initiated in Brisbane by the Queensland State fieicruiting Committee in an endeavor to secure recruits. A returned Anzae bugler sounded the call to arms outside the premises of one of the banks. It' was advertised in the morning that the recruiting committee asked for one recruit from the bank. A few minutes after the, call sounded one of the employees walked out to the recruiting sergeant and volunteered for active service. If the demands are not met at any institution visited the premises will be again, ■visited a week later by a patrol of hoy fcout kettle-drummers, who will play, the tattoo incessantly in relays. All institutions and business places in the city, ■both Government and private, will be 'systematically canvassed.