THE DEMAND FOR COMPULSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2744, 12 April 1916, Page 4

THE DEMAND FOR COMPULSION

No one who is capable of forming a rational judgment on the subjectis likely to challenge the declaration made by the Mayor of Wellington on Monday night that he was surehe was voicing the opinion of the people of Wellington when he said toe country should adopt the compulsory system of national'service. This is not only the opinion of the people of Wellington; it is the conviction of the overwhelming majority of the citizens of New Zealand. There are many indications that the supply of men obtainable by .voluntary methods is approaching exhaustion; but as the existing system will f»ave to continue until Parliament meets, every effort should be made to get the best results out of it that it is capable of producing. ■It behoves the believers in the voluntary principle to make the most of this final opportunity of proving that compulsion is unnecessary, and the advocates of compulsion will do Well to make it clear beyond dispute that the voluntary system has been given a. fair and thorough trial. . Me. Allen was on firm ground when he controverted the- assertion that voluntaryism has been a failure. It has a.great achievement to its credit; but it also has its 1 weaknesses and its drawbacks', and it is now running dry. The time has come for the establishment of a more equitable and fruitful recruiting scheme. The unbridled, use of such epithets as"coward" and "shirker" will not increase the number of recruits. Many people share Captain Barclay's dislike of such torms. There are comparatively few New Zealanders who are actual cowards or deliberate shirkers. The unfairness of the voluntary system probably accounts for the failure of a good many men of military age to offer their services. Others are not yet convinced"that the call is sufficiently urgent to make them sever the strong family and business tics which have so far kept them from enlisting. It is necessary that the compelling hand of the State should be placed firmly on their shoulders in order to make them realise, not only that they are wanted, but also that they must come. It is certain that public opinion is in favour of some form of compulsiqn, and in a democratic country it is utterly irrational for the dissentients, in the name of democracy and freedom, to thwart the people's will in this matter. '