The Maheno.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15488, 15 January 1916, Page 8

The Maheno.

Tlio statement mad© by the Prime Minister, in reply to the rumours circulated regarding the Hospital Ship Maheno, is perfectly full and frank, and ought to be satisfactory to any reasonably-minded person. Both the Maheno and the Marama were placed uuder the control of the Imperial Government, and it was at the request of the Director-General of Medical Services in Egypt that the Maheno came back to New Zealand. The wisdom of this course may still not bo apparent to people in New Zealand, who might be disposed to wonder why the serious cases could not have been evacuated to Bomo hospital nearer at hand, with the object of retaining the ship in active scrvice in the war zone; but there seems to bo no doubi that tho invalided were benefited by the sea voyage, and wo have no doubt they are more comfortable among their friends in New Zealand, in summer weather, than they could possibly be in England in tho fogs and cold of winter, oven although wo know that nothing could exceed the kindness and sympathy extended to our soldiers in the Mother Land. In any case, tho ship was placed at tho disposal of tho Imperial Government, and it was by the orders of the Imperial authorities that she returned to New Zealand. The allegations about the condition of tho ship on arrival, as to supposed disagreement on board, and part of tho nurses' quarters having been "cqm- " mandeered," and so forth, appear to have as little foundation as a good many other ill-natured rumours which have been circulated ginco our men began to return from tho front. We suspected that this might be so, and consequently declined to publish the statements which other newspapers 6eem to have accepted without question. One very gratifying and significant fact may be noted, which is that none of these complaints and disparaging statements come from tho men who havo actually "done their bit" at the front. Even when everything has not been to their liking it will bo found that they prefer to say nothing about it.

The Recruiting Question. In some quarters we observe a not very easily intelligible attitude towards New Zealand's greatest public question —the question of getting tho men required for our reinforcements. "We read that tho anti-conseriptionists— such anti-conseriptionists as had a night out at Woolston on Thursday—are very blameworthy, but, it is added—suddenly and without introduction or ex-

planation—"at the very inauguration j"of a recruiting campaign for volun- " tecrs it seems peculiarly inappropriate "to agitate for conscription." That a majority of the public arc in favour of conscription we take to bo a fact which only hardihood will dispute, but it is equally a fact that there is no sign of any real "agitation for conscription." Those who, like ourselves, believe in the principle of universal national service, have resolved that voluntaryism must be fairly tried out and can be retained if it really proves adequato to tho nation's requirements. Nothing could be more unjust than a suggestion that the friends of national service are in need of warning or correction. They desire that tho recruiting campaign which is about to bo inaugurated shall succeed, but they desire also, as cvervono ought, that that campaign shall bo based upon sound principles. air Massey's manifesto did not profess to do more than emphasise the duty of enlistment, and "was as non-committal as possible in every other respect. One sentence, however, appeared to indicate that it may not be proposed to follow the general lines of tho Derby campaign. "Hitherto," said the Prime Minister, "we have worked upon tho "voluntary system, and while men are "forthcoming in sufficient numbers to "fulfil the engagements which New "Zealand lias made with the Imperial "authorities there is no desire on the "Government's part to depart from "that system." The uso of the word "while" in this statement would, in Great Britain, have provoked many urgent enquiries, and we do not seo why its significance should not be considered here. Had Mr Massey said simply that voluntaryism will be retained "if" the campaign places beyond doubt tho country's means of fulfilling its engagements, his njeaning woijld have been clear. His actual words appear to indicate, however, that "while" this or that particular draft fills up the voluntary system will bo adhered to, and that it will not be altered until a shortage is recorded or until shortages appear likely to become persistent. Recruiting will take no harm from a full and early explanation of the details of tho campaign. While the Government are arranging these details the necessity for furnishing men is continuing, and, indeed, growing moro urgent as the time passes. It is specially desirable that the details should be before the public some time prior to the actual commencement of tho canvass, for it would be too much to expect a scheme perfect and completely agreeable to the public, and public discussion will assist the Government to improve its plan and make it a really effective test of the resources of the present system.