IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 2

IN THE NORTH.

SIB FRANCIS BELL'S TOUR. ' PEOPLE EAGER TO. DO THEXR " . . SHARE. AUSTRIANS ASK PERMISSION TO FIGHT. After a tour of -North Auckland, Sir Francis Bell considers that the people of the semi-tropics are- giving very serious consideration to the problem of recruiting. He also believes that very few eligible men will say "No." The Minister informed a representative of the, *"Star" that there U every indication* that care will be taken by the various 1 recruiting committees to obtain answers [ from all the men whose names appear on I the National Register, and although this j may be a matter of time, owing to the difficulties of tiie back&locks. he thinks that the work will be done very thoroughly. -oughly. LOCAL BODIES ACTIVE. On his way North from Auckland, Sir Francis addressed a large public meeting at Whangarei, and -was impressed by the enthusiasm displayed. Prior to that meeting he met representatives from • various districts, and discussed the Government's plans in regard to recruiting. He then went to Kaikohe and gave another address. Passing on to Kawakawa, the Minister met another conference of delegates, which, agreed to have correct lists made and answers obtained. At Dargaville, Sir Francis met Messrs. Coates and Stewart, JLP.'s, and representatives of all the local bodies. A resolution was carried undertaking to have the work carried out. DEPUTATION OF A.USTBIANS. During his stay at Dargaville the was approached by a deputation eonsKting of three representative 'Austrians, who asked that they and their fellow countrymen in New Zealand should be allowed to inaugurate a recruiting scheme of their own. They eaid that they wanted to fight against the Austrians, whom they hated. The depntation aleo aaserted there were not more than three ''German" Austrians in the district. They themselves were Croatian*, from Datnaiia, and although one of their number had been an officer in the Austrian army—against his will— their feelings "were wholly in favour of the Allies. Having lived in New Zealand they had learned what freedom meant, -and" they had never haifreedom in their own country: Naturally, .they would like " to go forward together, attached to the New Zealand forces, but-they were willing to separate and scatter among our troops. AB they- ■wanted ,was to be allowed to fight for the country oi their adoption. The Minister, in reply, eaid he ■would place the matter before Cabinet He added that there wer* imperial diffi- '." cutties in tie .way, "and; possibly New Zealand difficulties also. TREND OF POPULATION. Touching on. recruiting generally, the Minister said that when speaking- in Auckland from the recruiting station, when he was traveniag North, he had been struck by the activity which prevailed in Auckland. ' He thought that the Mayor and Council were doing very good work as a Tecruiting committee. Regarding the suggestion that the South was not filling its quotas, Sir Francis i said that the time must come when the supply of the more adventuroue spirits among the young men of New Zealand ■would be exhausted. TKe trend of migration northward had taken many of this class from the South Island, and the Southern districts .would naturally feel the pinch earlier than those in the' North. However, it was gratifying'that the North Island was' rising to the occasion, and filling any shortages "which existed in the quotas from other parts of New Zealand.