APPEAL FOR MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1918, Page 2

APPEAL FOR MEN.

IS AUSTRALIA WAR-WEARY? SPEECH BY FEDERAL PRIMES 'MINISTER, . In tlie course of fin address at Sydney last week, the Federal .Prime Minister (Mr. W. M. Hughes) said: One might lock round this city, and indeed around the continent., for any sign of recognition that I hero was P. war on. It Was said they were war-weary, but those who had remained behind in security had no reason to feel that. It was the men who were doing the lighting who might well feel it. Never was there a time when we were so prosperous—we lived by the valor of other men. "But that which threatened the Empire threatened ourselves. No one denied that Germany meant to crush us, and we are part of the Empire as much an any county of England, and would as assuredly perish if England fell to-morrow, The development of the Russian situation augmented their difficulties. Who doubted but that Germany was at the bottom of that? The objects of Germany "were obvious. She had torn off the mask and showed herself not a cunning Boloist issuing pamphlets for fools, but a blood-stained sword. The Bolsheviks were against war, and believed in the brotherhood of man, hut Germpny did not reply by declaring her true intentions. Those Russians offered honorable peace based upon justice, and look at Germany's answer!'

GERMANY'S WAY WITH HELPLESS. The peace Germany offered was .the peace of a ravening tiger. The lesson in all this was plain. If Germany would offer such terms to a great nation like Russia, what would she offer to Australia? There were people in this country who go about saying that Australia, should have had no part in this war. The result of the referendum was an exhibition of the utter inability of the people to realise the awful nosition wc were in. The Bolsheviks of Australia were abroad babbling about peace when there was no peace, and could be no peace until the enemy was destroyed. Thev must get peace in the only wav possible by wresting the power for evil from the hands of the nohenzolleni.

THE MENACE ON THE WEST. Mr. Hughes then referred to tlie coming attack on the West front. "It is going to be a colossal thini," said Mr. Hughes, "but the Allies will not failthat is, they will not fail if the people of the Empire as a. whole do their duty. "Australia's duty is not finished. yet. The Anzacs of Po/.ieres did their duty, adding glory to the Empire and. making a name for Australia. But we can all do something, and we must all do something. "The Allies want munitions, ships, and foodstuffs, ;and there is no time to waste." Referring to the necessity for recruits, Mr. Hughes said the Government was up against a problem. If there were many more Mouquet Farms, Pozieres. and Polygon Wood affairs the Australian forces would be seriously reduced, and the places of (he men knocked out of action would have to be filled. All the methods of voluntaryism had been exhausted. The Government had now drawn up a series of schemes which would enable the utmost to be got out of the voluntary system. Unless Australia shall prove herself to the end worthy of these men who had gone out and laid down their lives in the yreat, cause, voluntaryism stood condemned for all time.

THE RECRUITING PROBLEM. The Government had taken the only steps\possible to indicate to the people of Australia how they could remain In the fight to the end. It was said during the referendum, when the Government declared that 7000 men were wanted, that thev already had enough men to last, for a year. Three was a great deal of controversy on the subject, and the Government had appointed n. Commission, a High Court Judge, to decide exactly how many men were required.

NEW SCHEME PROPOSED. Mr. Hughes went on to explain the scheme which the Government had decided upon to obtain recruits. He said;— "A Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence will be appointed, and he will take charge of nil (he recruiting organisations. The Minister for Defence will be relieved of that work. "There ha. s been a difficulty in connection with the enlistment of married men by reason of the low pay and the highcost of living, which had steadily increased, and is still going up. We propose to increase the separation allow, ance by 33 1-3 per cent. "Considerable dissatisfaction exists in consequence of the deferred pay being held by the Defence Department.'and for which the soldier is not allowed interest. Wo have decided that after twelve, monlhs deferred pay shall carry- interest at the rate of 4J per cent, from January i, mis. "In order to develop the spirit of emulation which is latent in all of us, we propose to distribute cards to all men between the ages of 19 and 44, askiug them questions as to their ages, occupation, and eligibility for enlistment.

ASKING A QUESTION. "It is then proposed to ask them a definite question:— "Are you prepared, provided so many other men in your town, district, or division agree, to submit your name to a ballot, and to enlist i'f the ballot draws your name, to make up the quota for any particular month ?" "The best recruiting officer is the enlisted man," continued Mr. Hughes, "and we propose to make greater use of soldiers in this regard. The recruiting ser-' reant ■.-.■' M l.e paid a home-, which will have a tendency to stimulsytc his acti"insurance policies will be taken out for the men. "It was also decided that returned soldiers should bo employed to replace eligible* who are unable to see their way to do their duty. "Where there are Germans anil Germans, there arc also British and British, and I wish I could say that there were no British traitors in Australia. (Heat, hear). "A Magistrate will be appointed to deal with special cases. That pacifists knowing of the Russian tragedy and of declared intentions toward*

the vin-lit iJionld c-oiiiliiuc to raise their voices hero is to mu unthinkable. LOOK AT ItUSSIA. "Yet ilicro are men in our midst who babble about peace. Can any man calling hiinsMi' Australian accept'such terms of peace as (iermnny is now endeavoring to inflict upon Kussia'/ "Think of Ornir.ii coming duty free into Australia for the next toil years! What would Australian workers have to say to a condition of that sort? Their destiny is involved with that of the Hritish Kmpire, and only by the Knii pire's triumph' can their destiny be I achieved. I ask you to rally to the \ support of (he Covernnic.nt, to share j iiilli them the responsibility of provhl- :'»;.' men, food, ships and the thousand and one things that are required to help win the war and ensure the success of the Government's programme."