CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

RECRUITING. (To the Editor.) The utterly frank statement on the possibility of conscription made by the Speaker of the House, the Hon. W. J, Barnard, is in sad contrast with the quibbling attitude of the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, on the same issue. One thing is certain—until the Hon. P. Fraser's return from tlie front few of us are likely to know where we stand in this all-important matter of the defence of New Zealand and the part we will be called to plav in it. Glorious as was the part the Achilles played in the Graf Spee inddent, and magnificent the work doife Europe by our own lads *n the R t f it does appear at the present moment that it is going to prove a terrific nphill struggle to recruit a force of even 20,000 volunteers for oversea service. This question of conscription is not an easy one to decide offhand—there are far too many side issues involved. At first sight it appears to be an method of raising the number of men required—all that is necessary jg to send the "other" man. Like many others, I once thought it an ideal way but on looking up my birth certificate (in consequence of certain offensive remarks levelled at me), I discovered with a shock, that I come within the net myself. To have a referendum on the issue is worse. I don't mind being disposed of by the proper authorities when my time comes but for the sake of' Auld Lang-stone and in the interests of National Socialism above all, it looks too much like 'being scuttled—or, should I say, graf-speed? No—on second thoughts—now that it has come home to me personally, I think I will, for the future, back up the volunteer' system My application is already in f or a post as recruiting sergeant. MacCLURE