The press Friday, June 2, 1916. The Problem of Enrolment.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 6

The press Friday, June 2, 1916. The Problem of Enrolment.

There will be general surprise, we imagine, at the announcement in the long statement by the Recruiting Board which is issued to-day, that although there are still about 200,000 men of military age in the country, only 35,000 report cards have been obtained, njid this despite the fact that there lsa* been sufficient time for the completion of the canvass. Mr Massey, as Chairman of the Board, says that the National Register is an 'insufficient batis upon which to proceed in applying compulsion if and when compulsion becomes necessary. He explains that unless the rolls arc really complete and accurate, it will be impossible to see that justice is done. Not only would :i grossly imperfect roll —and we axe to understand that the National Register is nothing les3 than . that —seriously affect the individual, by permitting the • determined shirker to escape enrolment; it would seriously affect whole districts, owing to the impossibility of ascertaining the district quotas with accuracy. •Air Massey concludes his statement with a strong appeal to local bodies or local

enthusiasts to get to -work with the personal canvass. Our own opinion is that the deplorably wretched results which he laments ought to convince Mr Massey and his colleagues that further appeals are useless. We had hoped, in common with most other people, that the system of local canvassing would be taken up seriously and energetically. The disappointment of this hope may be ascribed to several causes operating together: —the public inability to understand why the National Register would not be .sufficient; . widespread ignorance concerning the importance of a perfect and complete roll in the event of compulsion becoming necessary; discontent with the Government's unwillingness to adopt compulsion forthwith; and a dislike for what appeared to be inquisitorial duties. It is now too late, we are afraid, to carry this canvass through, and the Government had hotter abandon the idea, and adopt some new method of getting what they want. The National Registration Act in Great Britain, was perfectly successful, and is the basis upon which compulsion is being applied. In its general outline it is not very unlike our own Act, but there are some important differences, apart from the cardinal difference that it is as carefully drawn as our Act is slipshod. Provision is made, for example, for the revision of forms incorrectly or incompletely filled in, persons changing their addresses are obliged to register afresh, and so on. I But most important was the clause I providing for the issue of a certificate of registration to every person sending in a form properly filled in. In a comparatively short time millions of registration papers had been received, and we have not hoard that the application of compulsion is attended with any of the injustice which imperfect rolls threaten here. Mr Massey and his colleagues, 'f they dread the results of an imperfect roll, and feel doubtful about the efficacy of the mandatory clause of the new Bill, may usefully consider the advantage of adopting this idea of giving to every man of military age who furnishes the necessary information concerning himself a card of registration, .and making it a penal offence to be unable to produce such a card on demand. In carrying out ary fresh registration rcheme on the British lines, the Government can rely upon voluntary assistance, for the work will bo mechanical —merely distribution, collection, and subsequent compilation—and will not involve anyone's asking anybody else any questions. One thing wo hold as established, that it is idle to hope that the recruiting canvass, which has so badly broken down, can usefully bo persevered with. In any yjvenfc the Government no longer require to ask any man whether he will enlist or not, and if not, why not. The Military Service Bill has superannuated those questions. 'J he sooner the Government-sets to work to devise a fresh method of I obtaining any information it requires the better it wil] be.