Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1916. TO SAVE THE STATE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 98, 26 April 1916, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1916. TO SAVE THE STATE

Yesterday afternoon, at the Town Hall, the Rev Dr. Gibb took an opportunity to contrast the hardships cheerfully suffered by the Anzacs at Gallipoli with the ■ easygoing, joyous, and even frivolous, living of large numbers of the defended in New Zealand. It ia plain for all to see that the spirit of patriotism varies remarkably among individuals. Some have a strong sense of Buty to the State, and others regard the war as a distant disturbance, with which they do not care to be involved..Mothers, fathers, and other near relatives of soldiers who have fought—or are about to fight—overseas feel that New Zealand is taking part in the war, but the people in the' mass have the old-time habits of peace— with probably an increase in the expenditure on amusements. It is extraordinary how this attitude persists in a country which, as a member of the great Imperial family, has helped very well with men, money, and materials up to the present. However, the air of carefree gaiety will be forgiven if the country continues to keep its pledge of proportionate help to Britain. Various speakers in different districts yesterday mentioned that the best honouring -of the Anzac heroes would be in a. proper maintenance of the reinforcements. The men overseas, who have won\fame, have not la-eked praise; plaudits, well-de-served, have abounded for them; they will be better pleased with assurances of aid at the front.

I The Prime Minister repeated yester*day, unmistakably, the resolution of the National Government to adopt a system 'of compulsory service if this final appeal for recruits during the next few weeks fails to bring in sufficient men. Jlr. Massey also hinted plainly that if certain eligibles waited to be eonscribed (hey would lose caste among the volunteers. Of course., in the case of numbers of married and single men, with dependents—men willing to go in their class at the State's call— a, taunt would be unjust, un-British, Tho position to-day, •warding to' Ministers of t!ie_ Crown,_.i*

that New Zealand hns still some thousands of men whose path to an enlisting office has no obstacles except those of their own making. These men, for their own sake, should hand in their names promptly, and thus avert the gibe that may be in readiness for those who wait to be forced into active service to help in saving the State. Some time ago the Minister of Defence expressed a belief (based on evidence) that public opinion in important parts of the South Island favoured a fair, democratic system of compulsory national service. This question has been tested at a number of meetings in the North Island lately,1 and tho reports show that the proposal of compulsion has strong support. We believe that if, after a fair but- disappointing- trial of the new recruiting scheme, the Government decides to persevere with a compulsion policy, it will be acting -in accordance with the desire of a great majority of New Zealand's people.