CONSCRIPTION URGED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 31, 16 November 1939, Page 3

CONSCRIPTION URGED.

•‘AN IMPERATIVE NECESSITY.” CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE REMIT (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 15. A decision to advocate conscription for military service was made by the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand to-day. The subject was brought before the conference under the following remit from the Dunedin Chamber: “That this conference urges on the Government the imperative necessity for the adoption of a system of conscription for military service on a basis having due regard to equity and national efficiency.”

Moving the adoption of the remit Mr C. L. Calvert (Dunedin) said ’ he had never yet heard a sufficient or even a partly effective answer to the principle of the remit. He had been startled to read a statement by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) that at the moment the spontaneous response to the appeal for voluntary enlistment precluded and contemplation of the introduction of conscription. The recruiting figures, however, showed that the country could not put an effective force into the war under the voluntary system.

There was. conscription of wealth, sqid Mr M. G. C. McCaul (Wellington) so why should there not be, conscription of men also.

There would be grave danger in passing the remit in its present form, said Mr M. H. Oram (Palmerston North). What was meant by the conscription of wealth nobody know. It might mean the expropriation of property. He suggested that they should investigate all the circumstances, and urge conscription on definite linos as to pay, allowances, pensions, and other concomitants

which would relieve the burden those conscripted would have to bear. He moved an amendment that the remit be referred back to the Dunedin Chamber for redrafting and resnbmission to the conference later. Other speakers supported the remit. Subsequently Mr Oram withdrew the amendment, and the remit, amended to the following, was carried.

“That this conference urges on the Government the imperative necessity for the adoption of a system of conscription for military service, such conscription being based on equity-and national efficiency.”