RECRUITING IN CANADA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 13

RECRUITING IN CANADA

COMPULSION NECESSARY

MR. H. .BEAUCHAMP'S VIEW

The position of the referendum in Australia upon the question of compulsory military. training has caused a large number of people liere to ask what is being done in Canada in'regard to raising men for the Empire's army (says the "New- Zealand Herald"). Information respecting the .matter was -sought by the "Herald" from Mr. Harold Beauchamp, chairman of directors of tho Bank of Now Zealand, who returned by the Niagara after a five months' trip to Canada. IfTreply to questions, Mr. Beanchamp said: —"I think I am right .in suggesting that when I left Canada last month, tho limit of recruiting -under the voluntary system had been ■ practically reached. The Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, was at that time making strong appeals for more men to fill the gaps caused by the recent heavy casualties. _ He urged the Leader of the Opposition, Sir "Wilfred Laurier, to sink all-party differences, and agree .to the setting up of a general Parliamentary Committee to consider what steps should be taken to enable Canada to continue her regular contributions-.of men. To the surprise and disappointment .of the Brit-ish-Canadians, Sir Wilfred Laurier declined this invitation, so that now the whole responsibility in connection with the matter will rest with tho Government.

"The action of tho French-Canadians in the matter, of enlistment is most adversely commented upon, and rightly so, as the following figured will show. In Canada there aro 2,200,000 FrenchCanadians, of whom 7000 only have joined the colours. Whereas, out of a population of Tather less than 6,000,000 British-Canadians, 360,000 have enlisted.' ■- •• ■ 'OTie necessity for compulsory military service is gravely apparent," said Mr. Beauchamp,. "but if an attempt' were made to pass an Act to gjvo effect to it, it would be strenuously, and, I fear, successfully opposed by the French-Canadians. The bi-lingual question is also one that is responsible for a good deal of ill-fe"cling between French and British, Canadians. > "Owing- to the niimber of men who have joined tho army there is a serious shortage ,of labour required for the carrying on-of farming and industrial concerns.- Calls woro made for no fewor than 50,000 'labourers for the recent harvest in the West, and very special inducements were offered men to proceed thither. Tho largo wages these men could make at that class of work deterred many, no doubt, from enlisting. And now, after tho harvest is over, there is an increasing demand for labour in Canada and the United States at high, rates of pay. As in other parts of the world, women are now doing work in Canada, that, prior to the war, was carried ou by men only."