NO CONSCRIPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 107, 7 May 1940, Page 10

NO CONSCRIPTION.

LABOUR POLICY. THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM. ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLE. A declaraion that the Oovornment adhered to the voluntary military system was made by the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, when addressing Auckland West electors at the Regal Theatre, Ponsonby, last evening. Mr. Fraser said that one could only pay tribute to the men who had come forward in the defence of their country. They were asked what the attitude of the Government was towards conscription—and he had heard mention of it at the meeting—4iiul he did not want to treat the matter lightly. As lie had said on previous occasions, if Xew Zealand's shores were in threat of danger, or threat of invasion, then automatically every man, woman and child, and every penny of wealth would Iks a-t the disposal of the State. (Applause). However, the Government and the Labour party —the Government were members of the Labour party—had stood for the voluntary system. It had advocated the voluntary system, that system up to the present time had been a great success, and the Government adhered to it.

Mr. Fraser reviewed the mens'ires instituted for the safety of the Dominion at the outbreak of the war as they concerned the land, sea and air forces, and pointed out that to date 34.900 enlistments had been made. Of these. 24.95* men had been passed as lit, and 2053 as temporarily unfit. Of the fit personnel 1800 had been held back for reserved occupations, 1.">.030 had been dispatched to eanip and 0720 were available for posting to the social force.