The Franklin Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1940. THE NATIONAL EFFORT

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 19, 19 February 1940, Page 4

The Franklin Times

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1940. THE NATIONAL EFFORT

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Ortice and Works: ROTTLSTON STREET, PUKEKOHE ’Phone No. 2. P.O. Box 14 “We nothing extenuate nor aught set down in malice.'’

HAVING chosen to adhere to its declared policy of voluntary enlistment for Hie New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the Government has acted rightly in taking definite steps to organise recruiting on a national scale. While we believe Unit conscription, as adopted in Britain, is the only fair and effective way of tackling the problem of man-power in the war—an opinion very widely held in this country—so long as the voluntary system continues every possible effort must be made, with the wholehearted support of the community to gel the men required to maintain the New Zealand Division at full strength on active service. Anything short of this would lie a betrayal of the gallant vanguard whose arrival in Egypt was reported on Tuesday. Experience in the Great War shows that trained reinforcements must be ready to follow the dispatch of the Main Body in regular succession. That is the meaning of the term “echelon,” aptly used of the N.Z.E.F. in the present war to describe the deployment of successive detachments into line. In this way the division is made up and maintained at strength. To achieve this object will demand the utmost

energy and efficiency in recruiting without, at the same time, depriving the country of the necessary manpower for production. Under conscription tlie task is comparatively simple; 'with voluntary enlistment it is much more complex.

Obviously, the first essential is a I borough survey of the man-power of Ihe country. Without it the whole machinery of production might easily be thrown out of gear by the departure overseas of indispensable keymen, whose retention in this country, for the time being at any rate, would best serve the cause for which the Empire is lighting. The announcement, therefore, by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Eraser) that a national register of man-power would be compiled, on the basis ot Social security forms, will be received with general sal is faction. Such a register must he the foundation of any attempt to organise I lie national ellort with a prospect of success. The only regret is that so much time has already been lost in coming to a decision. Australia, in this respect, by acting more promptly, is already reaping the henelil. The next step will be the organising of an energetic drive tor recruits throughout the Dominion. The appeal of Ihe Prime Minister .Mr Savage) in his broadcast lasi Sunday should assist in making Hie position clear to those who. through ignorance or led astray by false counsel, are slid in doubt. There is ample opportunity here for the dissemination of literature setting out in simple form Die sif.ua I ion to which I lie world lias been brought by (lie ambitions and aggressions of dictators, leaving Hie issue for Britain and France, as champions of Western democratic civilisation, plain: "I'iglil. or surrender.” It is obviously Ihe policy of (lie enemy to cloud this issue to the utmost, but Hie people of Britain, who ;m closest lo Hie scene, and refuse t i he moved by propaganda, insidious or idalanl. from (he resolute stand I hey have taken lo see Ibis business through lo the end at all costs. This is (lie altitude Dial must he impressed on Hie people of Now Zealand.

The recruiting conference which opened in Welling lon a few days ago will, of course, he concerned largely v.-ill) mailers of detail in organisation, but if Hie campaign is to succeed the services of ail seel ions of the community mils! he enlisted in the effort. It is a pity, from Ibis poinl of view, that the Government has not sirenglliened ils posilion by taking full advantage of Hie offer of Ihe Opposition Parly to co-operate. Among the members of Hie parly are men. like Vv Coales, wilh practical experience as farmers and soldiers. who could help greatly in making Ihe efforl Iruly national by stimulating both production and recruitment. New Zealand will need life help of everybody as time goes on. and the sooner complete team-work can he organised Ihe lietler. Nobody knows more clearly the nature and magnitude of the struggle in which Ihe Urilish Umpire is engaged Ilian the Brilish Government itself. II is nol too much lo say Dial Ihe position, in some respects, is even more critical than if was in Ihe Great War. Nobody knows in what direction Ihe storm may break, and it is in;t* (he Umpire lo he ready to meet Ihe brunt at any point. il is this l,!ml puls Ihe need for continuous elTorl on l.he part of New Zealand on a higher plane than ever. As the 'first step, it is the duty of every member of Die community to help in whatever capacity will best serve the

cause. II will he one of the main objeels of the present conference to see Hint the voluntary response of the people to the national appeal shall he utilised to Ihe maximum effect.