A NATIONAL REGISTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2553, 30 August 1915, Page 7

A NATIONAL REGISTER

BUT NOT CONSCRIPTION

DEFENCE MINISTER'S VIEWS SATISFACTORY RECRUITING 1 (By TelenraDta.—Press Association.) ■ HTO . Auckland, August 29. We nave no idea of conscription in . our nunds, aud T hope we shall never givo it a thought,!' was, the reply made by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) to-day to the .view expressed by Mr. W. M. Hughes (Federal At-torney-General) that the New" Zealand National Register' "is a modified form of conscription." "The purpose of the register," said the Minister, "is to ascertain tho resources of the Dominion an 4 I certainly think it should include women. '.'We want, to know," said Mr. Allen, "how many unmarried, men between the- ages of 20 and 1 40 years. have not enlisted, and how many have volunteered but have been unable to comply with the regulations. We . also want to know how many men are available and how they- are employed. New, Zealand is playing its part splendidly, and the spirit of tho people is such,that there will never be any need for conscription. The spiritf of .the' nation.is sinking into ; the individual, and those who have, not already realised-their duty will, I believe, be led to think about it,by the . .taking of-the register.' : Recruiting Caod."Recruiting is very good indeed," Mr. Allen continued. "Wo have enotigh men for the two new battalions of in•fantry and for! the Ninth Reinforcements. That is a wonderful record, and so long as the volume of recruiting is sufficient to maintain .the Reinforcements a. contingent ahead of immediate needs there will be no need for any stimulus, except-the conscience of tho people." , Mr. Allen added' that the-National Register would enable the Government to decide -upon the measures necessary to keep the industries of the country going. Agriculture and the factories engaged in the production of military equipment •were as. essential as the soldier himself, and it was anticipated thai some organisation, would-be necessary. '.'