RECRUITING

Evening Star, Issue 15907, 13 September 1915, Page 9

RECRUITING

SATURDAY NIGHT'S MEETING. There was n large gathering at the Town Hall steps at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, when an appeal for recruits was made the speakers being His \\orship the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark), Messrs John M'Donald, J. H. Wilkinson, and F. G. dimming. The Salvation Army. Band were present, and Played patriotic airs at intervals durumthe proceedings. ° In concluding a stirring address the Y er 7 man mus t ask himself this question: "Is it my duty to go.' He should ask himself this honestly and fearlessly, and do what he thought right in the sight of God. If the men did that, there would be no need for anyone to appeal for help to the men of the Empire. He hoped and beheved that the day was far distant when anybody with British blood in his veins-would be compelled to fight for his eountry;> —-■-• - - —--■*.-=. . • °-. Mr Wilkinson said the present was a sublime opportunity for the men of Otago to help their fellow-men who had already won such fame and glory that their names would be recorded in history, and their deeds remembered rieht down the vista of time. The speaker said they did not want conscription. Ihey beheved that the men who volunteered would render far more efficient service than the men compelled to go. borne fathers and mothers sent four or live sous, and others who had them *K ."TV™ Was thal i fair? ( Cries of j -\ lhe man who harl a mother and sisters and shirked his responsibility was a coward, and no other name was suitable for him. (Cheers ) Mr M'Donald said Ruskin had written that it was a soldier's duty to light and, if necessary, to die for his country, and the citizen who could not tight should work for his country in its time of need. He asked how many of them were fulfilling these obligations? lhe agecVand sick were the only ones who could be excused at the present time. Every strong man should be lighting, and every man and woman who could not fight should be working (Hear, hear.) . At the conclusion of the meeting a number of men volunteered, and about 20 of these were found suitable. TO-NIGHT'S DEMONSTRATION. The chairman of the Recruiting Committee writes:—To-night the Hon. Dr ™ £ ab a , nd Mr C - J - Parr - C.M.G., will take part in a patriotic demonstration in the Garrison Hall. They are coming from Wellington by invitation, in order to address a Dunedin audience on the subject of the great struggle now going on at the front, and OQ its effects on New Zealand. Dr M IS,ab is no stranger here, but of late we have had few opportunities of hearing him. Defence has always been his strong point, and it was very largely due to his efforts that wo now have a compulsory defence scheme, which is proving so useful to us in our hour of great danger. Mr Parr also is "a strong platform speaker. A good programme has been arranged. The meetm S> "■ is hoped, will be one that will do much to cheer up the relatives of those who have fallen at the front and ot those still there, and one that will also be an incentive to those left behind •ii ? • r share - A g rea t welcome wilt be given to our wounded and invalided men now returned, who have been specially invited to be present and to occupy reserved seats on the platiS™!.' ii S £° sea J s MdU be reserved in the hall, those first arriving will be first accommodated, and there is a limit to the holding capacity of even the Garrison Hall.