EXTRAORDINARY APATHY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 68, 20 March 1916, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY APATHY.

( MAYOR'S FINAL APPEAL. TO AVERT COMPULSION. The Mayor of Christchurch has issued a circular letter to leading citizens on the subject of recruiting In the circular the Mayor says:— "l much regret that all my efforts to obtain the public's assistance in carrying ojit the Government's new recruiting scheme in Christchurch have practically had no results. I can only assume that this extraordinary apatby on the part of Christchurch citizens is due to their not realising the grave necessities of the occasion, and I appeal to you to cast aside all other considerations and come forward to assist the National Government in en-: deavouring to save the country from compulsory military service with the Expeditionary Forces. The matter is ofj such paramount importance that I make no apology for appealing to you, but confidently hope that you will render whole-: hearted assistance, and remove from the city the stigma under which it is at pre-. sent resting. I am convening a meeting of citizens for Monday afternoon, and l ?! trust that you will be present, and 'do , your hit' in this great crisis in the for-1 tunes of the Empire." ELIGIBLE CIVIL SERVANTS. PROTEST TO THE PREMIER. The following letter has been forwarded to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister and chairman of the Government Recruiting Board, by Mr. Geo. Eraser (Mayor of Northcote): — "As chairman of the Northoote Recruiting Committee, formed at your request to assist the Government in its voluntary recruiting scheme, I wish to bring under your notice a factor that, in*the opinion of my committee, is proving detrimental, by its example, to the recruiting scheme. I Tefer to the action 'of the Government in continuing to employ single men without dependents in tie various, .public departments. lam led to believe there are a considerable munber- of these of adGtary age, who have not yet enlisted, and apparently Save no intention of doing so. My committee is strongly of opinion that whilst these men are allowed to retain their positions in the Government service a request cannot conscientiously be made to men in other classes, of employment to enlist. I feel-sure it is only necessary to draw your attention to fins state of affairs to have action taken by the Government which win set an example for private employers to inflow."