WHAT'S THE MATTER SOUTH?

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 69, 21 March 1916, Page 6

WHAT'S THE MATTER SOUTH?

VOLUNTARYISM A FAILURE. DRAINING AUCKLAND DRY. TO MAKE UP SHORTAGES. PUBLIC MEN PROTEST. TIME FOR COMPULSION ARRIVES.

The Auckland public is now well aware of the manner in which the district is being drained in order that men may be found to make up Southern shortages in the monthly reinforcement drafts. A fortnight ago the Fourteenth Reinforcements went to Trentham. Auckland sent as its share 632 men. The three other military districts of the Dominion sent in their quotas short of the full complement. First Auckland was asked to send 50 men to fill the gape; then the call came a few days later for another SO, and this number was dispatched. Yesterday there was a fresh request for 90 more: to-day the number wanted has increased to 120. A fortnight nence we send our usual monthly draft of 632 men South. In the interval we are expected to find 250 men for the making up of Southern shortages. Moreover, in order that the South may more easily fill its next quota, we are asked to send nearly all infantrymen next time, thus leaving the iSouth "to supply the men required for the non-combatant branches. This means that instead of sending 308 infantrymen in our draft for the Fifteenths, we will send 563. At the present time the whole district has 273 men only on the books ready to go South at a fortnight's notice as infantrymen. If 96 go South, as desired, in the course of the next few days we will have 177 men only in hand towards our next big draft, due to leave ]t*t a fortnight hence. Obviously the district is being ">«* * do more than it is capable of doing. Some views on the ? CTC gathered this morning by a M»r r preventative, and they are worth read ing. MAYOR AND THE MINISTER. - AnYkuTnd has never taken a parochial or narrow-minded view ot th.> quest.on stated the Mayor oi Auckland IMr.^ H. Giinson). "From time to ,tm j« ! Department, and Auckland has felt that it was its duty loyally to .upper thI authorities by sending its «"« *T° required, the position is now bceomin* intolerable. I am conv.wed-andm this matter the City Recruiting <-° mml" " w is nnanimous-that the time Has now arrived for the Government clearly -o state its intention from a policy standpoint in the matter of quotas from the respective military districts. If the men cannot be sot and are not in other districts, let the Government say so and also intimate what they expect ot Auckland. But to that suggestion the answer must he obviously apparent: that the men arc in the military district in proportion to the quotas which have been levied since the war census was taken, and careful observers who have recently been throughout the Dominion confirm this. The Auckland City Committee has met with nothing but discouragement from the Minister for Defence in connection with this campaign, but, notwithstanding that, it is determined to push on and loyally do everything possible at this time. But. obviously, the time must soon come when this condition cannot longer be tolerated, and I again appeal to the Minister to consider the Auckland representations to the Recruiting Board, by the adoption of which, and the maintenance of quotas from other districts, there will be absolutely no difficulty about maintaining recruits. But this intolerable policy of inactivity and indecision must cease once and for all. As I have previously stated, wo must not overlook the fact that the whole military system obtaining in this country is of a voluntary character, and if there is an overwhelming demand oh the part of a substantial section of the community for a certain policy, which cannot possibly interfere with the military administration or the Defence regulations, but will greatly assist the interests of recruiting in the various centres, it is a matter of business and commonsense that these points shall bc'forthi with conceded. Our demands arc firstly for receiving camps, and secondly for reasonable financial latitude and assistance from the Defence Department. 1 would not go the length, at the present time, of advising Auckland men not to respond to the demand to fill Southern gaps. Many have recently gone, and those who are required for next week will be found ready; but it is not without considerable protest and objection on the part of the men themselves that they thus loyally consent. While admitting that at this time the Empire demands are paramount, and that personal and local considerations must be dropped altogether, it is quite natural for Auckland men to desire to remain together, and it is also reasonable for 1 them to object to discharging southern obligations when there are men in those centres to assume the obligations themselves. 1 do not wonder at all that the system has broken down in the South. It had practically -broken down in Auckland, and it is only by the dogged determination of the Auckland committee to see the thing through that Auckland has been able to save the position. But an impasse is surely coming, and the path can only be straightened out by a liberal and reciprocal policy on the part of the Defence Department and the Government. " VOLUNTARYISM HAS FAILED." " 1 was one of those who, eight months ago, deprecated unfriendly criticism of the South Island," said Mr. C. J. Parr. M.P., '" because I felt sure that when a census was taken it would show that the North . Island possessed very many more young men than the South. The census figures, taken in November, subsequently did show, as 1 expected, th? proportion of eligible young men to be about six to four. Unfortunately, how-J ever, it now transpires that the Souili Island is unable to find even its legitimate proportion. Moreover, despite ro- ! ci-uiting campaigns, the position seems to be going from bad to worse. With the. most cordial desire in the world to help our. weaker brethren, and be neighbourly {

we cannot overlook the figures of recent enlistments. When I was in Dunedin in September last the Recruiting Committee then.told mc they unanimously desired compulsory service. I believe tnis feeling has grown stronger in the intervening months. It looks as if the South Island is almost demanding conscription. Personally, I am strongly for universal service, when everyone will have to do something, whether he likes it or not. To my mind, the experience of the last fortnight has clearly demonstrated the failure of voluntaryism as a practicable system. The Government now must face the situation without delay." DEFENCE MINISTER TO BLAME. The Hon. George Fowlds has just returned from a visit to Canterbury and Otago. While in the South Island the ex-Minister made close inquiry into ths recruiting question, and his observations are of interest. ' " While in Dunedin," said Mr. Fowlds, " I was invited to address a recruiting meeting. It was one of a series, usually held on Saturday nights, and there must | have been between 3,000 and 4,000 people present. The Mayor was in char?- of the meeting, and there were several speakers besides myself. The response was practically nil. Personally I have always hoped that New Zealand would get through on the voluntary system, but I have come to the definite conclusion that unless the North Island is to be drained dry, some method of comi pulsion will be necessary in the South Island. It seems to mc that the Government should not wait for the ordinary meeting of Parliament, hut should proceed immediate!}' to take the necessary powers of applying compulsion. A large portion of the people of Canterbury and Otago do not secrn to have realised the seriousness of the position, nor the need for making each district do its fair share. It is all noncsense to say that the men are not available. The South Island is only asked to contribute in accordance with the proportion of eligible men shown to exist at the time the war census was taken-in November. Whilst in Canterbury 1 was told by one man that he could name a dozen families within a radius of a few miles where there were from three to five boys in each family, and not one had enlisted. j 1 am quite sure that nowhere in the. 'Auckland province could you find that I After this visit south I am more than lever convinced that the trouble in CanI terbury and Otago is largely to be I traced to the attitude taken up all !bv the Minister for Defence. He ha 3 boon responsible for the frequent assertion that the South had not the men ! available, and he has also from the beginning tried to hide the fact that Otago is continually failing to find its quota. Herein lies the principal reason for fail-1 urc The South only needs stirring up and it will supply its quota. Compul-j sion. under the commando system, is sirable, and. to begin with. I think past j ; deficiencies in the South Island should j !be made up under the compulsory sys- j ; tern before there is any talk of applying:it to the North Island. The North has jbecn steadily drained for many months ! past in order that Southern shortages i might be made up, and there is no sense in applying compulsion to districts it they are already nearly drained dry." j