NO CONSCRIPTION

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 8

NO CONSCRIPTION

GOVERNMENT’S MIND MADE UP STIMULATING RECRUITING IN OTAGO TROOPS FROM BURNHAM TO MARCH THROUGH STREETS " Conscription definitely will not be introduced m the Dominion by the Government, and as thousands or men are holding back in the entirely erroneous bener that compulsory service will come, the sooner tney Danish that from their minds the nigner the recruiting figures wit reach," said Mr Artnur rvlacdonald, who has returned from Wellington, where he represented the mayor (Mr A. H. Ailenj and the Otago Hecruiting Committee at the conference held there this week of recruiting committees throughout the country. The Deputy-Prime Minster (Hon. P. Fraser) had pointec out at the conference that the Government had no mtent'on of bringing in conscription, said Mr Macdonald, but still rumours were gaining ground to the effect that conscription cards were being printed now and would be issued in March. Subversive propaganda of this kind was-senously hindering recruiting.

Olio reason why recruiting m Otago and Southland was disappointing, said Mr Macdonald, was that there was nothing in the way of military activity, such as camps, to stimulate the mind of the public. That fact was realised and appreciated by the conference, and he could now make the announcement that special troop trains from Burnham would come to Dunedin and Invercargill, and there would be parades of the troops through the city streets on a large scale. Also arrangements had been made,and would be put into action soon to run excursion trains from Dunedin to Burnham at a very low cost to travellers to enable them to visit their friends and inspect the camp and its facilities. The idea of the Recruiting Committee in Dunedin, said Mr Macdonald, was to rouse the public from its apathy. The realisation that conscription would not come should help, and men who were waiting for it should now definitely rally to the colours. The Government had set aside £IO,OOO for the purpose of recruiting generally, and now this country was on the brink of a mammoth drive to obtain recruits, it was a complex among the people of the Dominion that the response was poor. This was definitely wrong; the reverse was the case. Excluding the air and naval forces there had been more than. 40,000 men who had contributed to the Dominion’s war effort in five mouths. This response was far greater than for the corresponding period in 1914. By February 13 27,341 had registered, 17,701 had been passed as fit, 4,201 were waiting medical examination, 13,759 had been posted to camp, , and 2,125 were classed as fit and available for the third echelon.

What made a,deep impression at: the conference of the recruiting committees! was the complete harmony and understanding that existed between the Labour and National interests, commented Mr Macdonald. All the decisions were reached unanimously. He added that the delegates had visited Trentham and were deeply impressed with the spirit of the troops, and also the facilities that were provided for them. Several Dunedin recruits were met, including Lieutenant Desmond Greenslade at the dental clinic, and he was attended by Sergeant T. Wynne, who was once connected with repertory and operatic circles here. Mr Macdonald also met Pay Officer A. Gorrie, also interested before in operatic activities in Dunedin.