RUMOURS ONLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 8

RUMOURS ONLY.

CONSCRIPTION IN N.Z. RECRUITING HANDICAPPED. RESPONSE TO DATE IS GOOD. (From Our Correspondent.) DUXEDIX, this day. "The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. P. Fraser) pointed out that the Government had no intention of bringing in conscription," said Mr. Arthur Macdonald on his rot urn from Wellington, where he represented the Otago Recruiting committee at a conference of recruiting organisations which was held there last week. "Rumours are gaining ground, however, to the effect that conscription cards arc being printed now and will, be issued in March, and subversive propaganda of this nature Is seriously hindering recruiting. Conscription definitely will not be Introduced in the Dominion by the Government, and as thousands of men are holding back in the entirely erroneous belief that compulsory service will come the sooner they bariish that from their minds the sooner will recruiting figures rise." It was a complex among the people of the Dominion that the response to recruiting appeals was poor, he continued. This was definitely wrong; the reverse was the case. Including the air and naval forces, there had been almost 40,000 men who had contributed to the Dominion's war effort in five months. This response was far greater than for the corresponding period in 1914. By February 13, 27.341 had registered, 17,701 had been passed as fit, 4201 were waitin* medical examination, 13,739 had been posted to camp, and 2123 were classed as fit and available for the third echelon. AVhat made a deep impression at the conference of the recruiting committees was the complete harmony between the Labour and National interests, commented Mr. Macdonald. All the decisions were reached unanimously. He added that the delegates had visited Trentham and were deeply impressed with the spirit of the troops, and also the facilities that were provided for them.