GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO MARRIED MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 5

GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO MARRIED MEN.

MASS MEETING DEMANDS FULL REDEMPTION. , SIB JOHN SIMON AGAIN ATTACKS COMPULSION SCHEME. LONDON, March 17. Another mass meeting of married men at Tower Hill jeered the announcement that Mr. Asquith would not receive m deputation. It was decided to form a Married Men's League to insist on the Government's pledge to call up single men first being carried out. Married men are arranging a demonstration on an immense scale in Hyde Park on Saturday. A conference between the Government and the War Office discussed the recruiting situation. It is understood that married men of 36 upwards will not be required to serve. Probably unmarried men over 40 will shortly be enlisted. An active campaign to canvass unattestcd married men will be commenced immediately. Interrogated in the House of Commons, Mr. Tcnnant, Under-Sccrctary for War, declared that he could not say what the Government's action would be in the event of attested men refusing to respond to the .summons. Jt wa3 improper to anticipate such an unfortunate and illegal act on the part of any attested men. In the House of Commons Sir John Simon, ex-Secretary of State for Home Affairs, declared that it was urgent that the Government should state the size of the army at which it aimed to avoid damage to the nation's business and financial stability. It was now admitted that conscription had given disappointing results. The Ea«l of Derby had grossly exaggerated the numbers who had not enlisted. His figures were ridiculous. There was never any statistical basis for tne introduction of conscription, which had proved neither businesslike in operation nor fruitful in results. Any compulsion becoming popular had been destroyed by the ineptitude of its advocates and administrators. The co-ordination of all services and industries was necessary if the country were to put forth ite utmost strength. Married men had been given to understand that there were immense reservoirs of unmarried "slackers" yet available. Mr. W. H. Long declared that the people of Britain would read Sir John Simon's speech with dismay. It represented the view of a minority.