RECRUITING

Evening Star, Issue 16049, 28 February 1916, Page 2

RECRUITING

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. OUTLINED BY PRIME MINISTER. The policy of the Government in regard to voluntary recruiting was clearly defined by the Prime Minister in an interview at Auckland yesterday. He discussed the subject, also, during a speech at Pukekohe on Saturday, and on both occasions he declared that, if the Government were unable to maintain the reinforcements for the Expeditionary Force with volunteers, they would not hesitate to introduce a form of compulsion. "The Government are determined to give the voluntary system a thorough trial," said Mr Masssy. "Up to the present 50,000 New Zealanders have taken up arms, and so far we have not been a man short of our obligations. In view of that result in so small a country, I do not think it can be said that the voluntary system has failed. The position of the Government is, however, perfectly clear. We have undertaken to send forward every month a certain number of men, and the Government are determined that their promise shall be fulfilled to the last man. Months ago, at a meeting in the Town Hall in Wellington, I said that, if the reinforcements were not maintained by voluntary methods, there would be no hesitation or hanging back on the part of the Government. The policy of the Gocer.nment ha 3 not altered. Men must bo found, and, if the present methods fail, Parliament will be asked to provide the necessary legislation to enable the Government to enforce some form of compulsion." Many local authorities, whose assistance has been asked by the Recruiting Board, nave passed _ resolutions urging the Government to introduce consenption. Commenting on these resolutions generally, Mr Massey said that it was unnecessary for public bodies to record such resolutions, as the position was so plain that there could be only one course if the voluntary system failed. As lie had stated, it could not be said that it had failed, and the Government, through the Recruiting Board, had asked the local bodies of the Dominion to assist them to the best of their ability. Mr Massey added that preparations for a campaign were proceeding satisfactorily. As far as possible, members of the Government would give their assistance, to the. local bodies. A suggestion had been made that the system of enlistment announced by the Recruiting iJoard would enable indenendent single men to enlist for reinforcsmonta months ahead, so that the authorities would have to call on men with dependents fi4 the earlier di-afts. Deficit provision has been made by the Recruiting B'iard to prevent such a result. Volun* teers who register for a definite reinforcemenfc will bo asked to name a draft which •vlll be called up within a comparatively short period. Mr Massey explained that any man who offered to enlist only after an unreasonably long period would not bo accented.' Such men must be regarded as unwilling to enlist.