THE SEARCH FOR ELIGIBLES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 9

THE SEARCH FOR ELIGIBLES

ALL DISTRICTS TO BE CANVASSED

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE AND CLERICAL WORK.

WAR LEAGUE AND RECRUITING

COMMITTEES CONFER.

The recruiting problem and the question of the personal appeal were again discussed at a general meeting of the members of the Town Hall Recruiting Committee and War League Committee held, in .the Council. Chamber of the Town Hall last evening. On the pub : lie invitation of the Mayor (Mr. J. P ■Luke), many members of the men's and women's branches of the National Reserve were present. The ". Mayor presided. In opening the meeting, Mr. Luke remarked that he was not one who held the view that Wellington had not done its share as far as: recruiting was concerned, especially in view .of the fact .that it had been frequently called upon to make up • shortages in other'' districts. He was positive that Wellington had done more than its share. No fewer than 3000 recruits had been enrolled by the Town Hall Recruiting Committee, which was ably led by Capt. Barclay, who, they would all agree, was a very public-spirited citizen. (Aji- | plause.) | THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. j The Mayor then moved: — "That the secretary of the Wellington Recruiting Committee send to , each man on the local roll of the city of Wellington and the New Zealand Register a recruiting report card and a circular, in the form annexed; that the cards returned be arranged according to the districts into which the city has been subdivided, arid then alphabetically arranged; that after the expiration of seven days from'the issue of the circular the committee of each district take over the. returned cards of its district to enable it to make a, personal canvass of those who have not returned their cards and those who have returned their cards, 'arid who, in the opinion of the committee, should be personally interviewed, and of those who are not on the register; that, pending the return and arrangement of the cards, each district committee devote its attention to endeavouring to discover what men in the district are not on the National Register, and to make a record of the names and personally interview them; that the Women's National Reserve be asked to assist in the work of despatching the cards and circulars and arranging. the cards when returned.". The form referred to in the motion reads:— "Dear Sir, —In order to carry out the Government scheme of recruiting and complete the National'Register, the Wellington Recruiting Committee is determined to send to all men in the City of Wellington on the National Register, a recruiting report card. I therefore enclose such card and shall be obliged if you will complete it in accordance with the instructions and return to me.- . It is hardly necessary for me at this crisis in the history of the .Empire to remind you, of the urgent need of recruits for our 'Expeditionary Forces or to ask you to give due consideration to the call of your King and country before completing your return." Speaking to the motion, Mr. Luke expressed the hope that within fourteen days after the inauguration of the scheme Wellington would have fulfilled its obligations and would stand second to no town in the Dominion. > DETERMINED EFFORT NECESSARY The Hon. J. G-. W. Aitken seconded the motion, and urged that Wellington should make a determined effort to remedy the present position. Councillor A. Veitch stated that the scheme was not on the lines of that asked for by the Minister of Defence. It did not provide for a house to house personal canvass. Tlie Mayor said that the element of the persona] canvass entered into the scheme. Mr John Crewes mentioned that the scheme suggested by the Mayor was in operation in Newtown at the present time. In some of the streets he had visited he had found people who objected to be bothered with any further cards to fill in. Eligible young men who had not enlisted should be shamed into doing their duty. Mr. H. F. Von Haast said that many, - married men who had dependents were willing to go if they were satisfied.that their dependents would be provided for. , That was the reply they had filled in as far as the registration cards were oonoerned, and it was the reply they would continue to send in. He took it that the idea of canvassing was to find out the young men who had not registered. The scheme of getting return cards would be necessary, whether conscription came in or not. He, suggested that an appeal be made fb the men and women of the National Reserve to come forward to do the canvassing., ' FROM THE WOMEN'S STANDPOINT. Dr. Platts-Mills said that it was quite within the constitution of the women's branch of the National Reserve to take the place of the men who .went away. They had discussed the question of tho personal canvass, and had decided that, although they did not like the work, it was_ their duty to make the necessary ' sacrifice and .to undertake ' it. Person- i ally, they all thought that the personal ■ canvass would be of benefit if carried j out in a spirit of thoughtfulness and ' tactfulness. Councillor W. J. Thompson expressed ; the hope that the scheme outlined by ; the Mayor would be carried out. It seemed to him that it would complete the scheme outlined by the Government.. Councillor W. H. P. Barber said that as chairman of the Newtown. Recruiting Committee, he could say that his committee would not oppose the scheme.* • ' Councillor G. Frost • also supported the ; Mayor's scheme. . < ' The Mayor explained that lie had not | come to the meeting with a scheme cut-' and dried, but that it had been care-\ fully thought cut. Mr Wiekens. who stated that he had 'seen Imperial service, also approved of \ the scheme outlined by the Mayor. He ' was a- married man with six children, and '• had offered his services during the first week of the war, because he thought it was his duty to give the benefit of his experience to the young men. Mrs. J. P. Luke said that she did not see why those, men who had sent in their names in Newtown and elsewhere should not be struck off the roll. PURGING THE ROLLS.

Captain Barclay said that in order to purge the roll they must have the personal canvass. A man would be communicated with, a reply envelope would fee enclosed, and, surely, it was not Joo

much to expect !him to send in a reply to the questions set forth. He pointed out 'that the information given in the National Register was confidential. He did not believe in the word "shirker," because, if it was pointed out to a man what he could do, he would have the little touch of personal vanity that'would induce him 'to do it. The war had to be won, and if each one in the room buttonholed someone and said "Why haven't you replied to that card?" he or she could do a lot towards winning the war '

Mr. A. H. I-lindmarsh, M.P., said he had looked through the list and he saw the names of a good many wealthy people who ought to be approached. If "a man was well' off it did' not matter so much if he died. (Applause.) It was the duty of the Government to say to these people "You must go-to the front." It was all very well to say to the young man "You should go to 'the front," but if moral influence could be used to. make the wealthy men go to the front it would do a lot to remove.tlie bad feeling that existed. If the scheme was to be successful there must be sacrifice on the part of every man. The mature man was the best. He was not speaking of himself, for all the males in his house had gone to the war and it was only age that kept him from going himself. (Applause.) ' They should, appeal to the ■wealthy men to go, and if such men responded 'to the appeal they would give a great impetus to recruiting.,. And if they did not go then their names should be published 'and they should be compelled to go.

The Mayor, after putting the- motion to the meeting, declared it to be carried unanimously. He then urged that the names of as many people as possible be added as canvassers. IN FAVOUR OF COMPULSION.

Mr. Thos. Ward said he thought that it was necessary to bring in a general compulsion sch.eme. and "stop all this humbug." If the Government would not pass such a Bill, then let them put another Government in. He moved a motion in favour of the Government bringing in a Bill on the lines he had indicated.

The Mayor said that the motion was out of order, but he would leave' the meeting ia say whether it would accept it or not. . ' . -

There were some "Ayes" in favour of the proposal, but a louder volume of " Noes," and the Mayor intimated .that he could not accept the motion.

The members of the wpmen's branch of the .National Reserve ;present- then went into committee .to' discuss the methods, they should adopt in connection with the clerical work. About thirty remained behind, Dr. Platts-Mills presiding. Miv.D. jVl'Laren was appointed to act as secretary :., All those present handed in their names as, being willing to do clerical work. It was decided that sessions (of two hours each) be commenced 'on Monday, and that the hours of meeting (the Mayor to be present) be 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. It was arranged that twelve be present at each session.