VOLUNTARY RECRUITING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 64, 15 March 1916, Page 6

VOLUNTARY RECRUITING.

MINISTERS "TRYING IT OUT."

STATEMENT BY HON. DR. McNAB.

EXPLAINS SOUTH ISLAND'S GAPS.

We are exhausting all the methods of the voluntary system, and would like to see it win through. We realise tha.. if ft does n<st we will have to get the men by snother system, and that is whyi, ■ all nie.abers of the National Caoinet are Ljoy_lly striving to make voluntary reI'eruiting successful." The foregoing statement was made h|y the Hon. Dr. j McNab, Minister of Justice, to a representative of the "Star" this morning, in defining the position of the Govern- j ! ment with regard to recruiting. Dr Mc- | | Nab explained that he was not in Auckland because it was thought that too authorities here needed assistance, but | because the Prime Minister virsidered it desirable for representative Ministers to speak in the various centres. Di. McNab paid a tribute t-i the Auckland district in connection with the ( records which had been establishe I since the City Council was constituted Ihe central recruiting committee, and said that in his own district (Hawke's Bay) the y found exactly what we found here, namely, wonderful activity in ricrnitinar. " And," he added, "we also find, just as you do here, that we are culled upon t) "supply what the Southern districts have failed to supply. I need hardly say that our people are very loyally doing so.". This remark led up to the question of whether the South Island Is rising to the occasion equally with the North Island. "If we base our calculations," he said, "on a proper appreciation of the position, it has yet to be proved that there are any gaps in the South At the same time, I do not dogmatically state that there are none." The Minister said he was not speaking as a Southerner, but as one who was formerly in the South, but had moved to the North. When attention was drawn to the fact that the quotas now being worked upon had been estimated since the compilation of the National Register, Dr. McNab said he was aware of the fact. His point, however, was that the estimate had been made by taking into account all men of military age, Of these there were two classes—married and single. The totals for each of the four military districts were: Wellington 63.200. Auckland oO.'po. Canterbury 4.-),000, Otag-i 32.000. On these totals definite quotas had to bo supplied each month. Speaking as one who had recently tray piled extensively through the South Island (as well as the North), the Ministor expressed the firm conviction that the trend of pouplation northward ban. to a large extent, deprived the South Island of single men. It was true that there remained many men of military age. but in his opinion a very larg-> proportion of them were married. Con- | sequenlly it ivm not to he expected that ', districts in which most of its eligible* . were married men would give as go id results as districts which had a better j proportion r! eligible sin-le men. He | repeated thai all members of the | National Cabinet were in the meantime doing their utmost to try out the voluntary system.

MR. POOLE'S TARANAKI TOUR.

; ' SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF MEN. ! VOLUNTARYISMS LAST TRIAL. ! COMMANDO SYSTEM DESIRABLE.

Mr. C. 11. Poole. M.P.. who has been busy on recruiting campaigns in practically every part of the Dominion throughout the recess, returned yesterday from n recruiting tour of the Taranaki district. Seen by a. '"Star" representative this morning, Mr. Poole said that the autliontiw were a good deal concerned respecting Taranaki's failure to find its share of the Wellington district quota for recent reinforcements. The draft for the Fourteenths, which went into camp last week, showed a cdisidcrablc shortage, and a revival is necessary if future drafts *re to be kept up to full strength. Mr. Poole, while in the district, addressed n number of meetings, and he has been asked to return to New Plymouth at an early date and deliver further appeals to those eligible to enlist. COULD IF THEY WOULD. "The feeling in Taranaki is that there are lots of men who coulu go if they would go," said Mr. Poole. "The hesitancy of a good many is due to the fact that men with practically no ties steadily avoid the recruiting office. A profound impression has been created by tlie splendid recruiting work which is being done in Auckland, but the unfairness of asking Auckland to go on, month after month, filling the gaps in Southern quotiiH is generally recognised. Auckland has so far been willing enough to carry this burden, but obviously it cannot be continued indefinitely. It is absurd to say that Auckland is the only district where men are available. The official quotas have been fixed in accordance with the fncts disclosed by the national census in November last, and each district is asked to supply a monthly draft based on the proportion of eligible men phown by the national register to exist in that district. So each month 2300 men are called up oa a population basis in the following proportions: Wellington 33.68 per cent.; Auckland, 26.71; Canterbury, 23.43; Otago, 10.18. This is the basis arrived , at since the compilation of the national register, and I believe the figures correctly represent the numbers of men actually available. It is extraordinary, therefore, to find that official apologies are 'being made for Southern areas Where recruiting is not up to standard. Everything points to the necessity for immediate consideration of the whole question, and the introduction of some system which will enable pressure to be applied in those districts which fail to find their quota on a population basis. The commando system, which provides for the introduction of compulsion in any district failing to find its quota voluntarily, is probably the one best adapted for use in New Zealand." THE GOVERNMENT AT FAULT. "It must be admitted," added Mr. Poole, "that everywhere there is a feeling that the National Government ie at fault in many thing.. For instance, the failure of the Government to grapple in an effective manner with the coat of living problem constitutes a big obstacle to successful recruiting. It waa pointed out to mc by a business man in New Plymouth that even during the time of the big etrike, when flour was £21 per ton, the price of bread was not as high as it is now. Flour is not £21 per ton to-day, ox anything like it, but bread is lOd per loaf. The people feel that they arc being exploited, and they feel that the Government is making no efTort. at ■ill to deal with th" pi-Hon. Then

there is the question of war pro£te and war taxation. Feeling runs high on these questions. Money is plentiful enough in Taranaki, but most of the producers know how to stick to it. Onincident, which occurred a few days ago, is being widely quoted. A dairy factory director brought forward a proposal ■■ that in view of the success of the season, the company should make a donation to the local Patriotic. Fund. He pointed out that the increase in prices, from which they were benefiting, was directly the outcome of the war. The proposal, however, was immediately -turned down, and one of those present had the audacity to bring forward a resolution of censure on the chairman for wasting their time. Yet another point was brought under my notice while in the south. Many young men find themselves burdened with financial liabiliti-js ; —loans from State Departments, and | | that kind of thing. If the State could , see ite way clear to meet these young ! men, they would gladly enlist. Some- | thing might possibly be done in this mat- I tcr. But if there is no revival of re- i cruiting in the south, I can see nothing for it but an early session to consider | the introduction of the commando eysteni or some other system to ensure the filling of each district quota." RECRUITING AT ELLERSLIE. MINISTER SPEAKS TO-NIGHT. A recruiting meeting takes place at iEllerslie this evening. The Minister of j Justice, the Hon. Dr. McNab, will I address the meeting, and other speakers I will include the Hon. F. W. Lang, Lieu- | tenant Foster, who recently fought in I the trenches in Flanders, Mr. W. A. Beu- | doe, and Mr. Tisdall. A musical proi gramme will be provided during the evening. THE RECRUITS. LIST OF MEN ACCEPTED. The following men were accepted for service at the recruiting station aft-r the "Star" went to press yesterday: — 11. Avery, labourer, Dublin Street. I, lirett, labourer, Grey Lynn. L. W. Broughton, salesman, Cameron Street. . F. Briggs. quarryman. Eden Terrace. S. Cousins, fruiterer. Great North Road. C. L. Carter, shipwright, Liverpool St. R. JJick, .labourer. New .Street. V. Fitzpatrick. labourer. Hobiion Street. |W. H. Kirxman, painter. Devonport. IT. Merchant, baker, Grafton Road. IT. 11. McKwan, plasterer. NeLon Street. A. iii'Kenr.a, labourer, Waverley Street. E. 11. Robertson, clerk. Heme Bay. M. P. .Santos, leadlighter, Devonport. .1. \V. Simpson, labourer. Criterion Hotel. |W. Smith, porter, Waitemata Hotel. I This morning 15 men offered their j services, eight being accepted, five defer- ! red, and two rejected. The following 'were the accepted men: — | Howard Potter, traveller, "Stowford," I Parnell. jD. L. Cameron, traveller, Maitai Road, j Cheltenham. ■ lE. J. Marshall, millhand, Elizabeth ' I Street, Mt. Albert. •, Charles Clark, seaman, c/o Seamen's ! | Union, City. iT. B. Leathart, linotype mechanic, "Star" Oilicc, Auckland. Neil Frederic Tasman Jamieson, clerk, Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Auckland. Ernest George Hallett, postal clerk, Alison Avenue, Devonport. BACKWARD OTAGO. APPEAL TO SIR JOSEPH WARD. (•By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) i DUNEDIN. this day. An effort is being made to obtain the ; 1 services.-of Sir Joseph Ward in the mat- i tcr of launching the new recruiting scheme in Dunedin. If ii:_ adniinistraj live duties pcrihit the Minister of Fin- [ mice will cordially give his assistance nnd visit Dunedin for the purpose of 1 addressing a public meeting. It is generally felt that the Minister's aid is .required, and it is hoped' that Sir Joseph will be able to come to Dunedin soon. Sir Joseph went north by the second e:c- j press to-day, en route for Wellington. ] ! THE RECRUITING APPEAL. ATTITUDE OF LOCAL BODIES. ! (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) j WELLINGTON, Tuesday. >' In response to the Government's in- - vitation to local bodies to assist tbe t recruiting campaign the following replies 5 have been received:— \ Eighty boroughs, 69 counties, and 31 ' town boards have agreed to co-operate and help. Three boroughs, eight counties, and four town boai-ds arc willing to help, but prefer compulsion, j Two boroughs and one county took no action, j One borough, one county, and one j. town board refused help.