Are Our Soldiers Being Pampered ?

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 23, 28 February 1940, Page 5

Are Our Soldiers Being Pampered ?

MR W. A. PETERSON’S VIEW VOLUNTARY SYSTEM ATTACKED MONEY WASTED A sharp attack on the voluntary system of enlistment in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was made by Mr W„ A. Peterson at Monday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council when the subject of military service was before the council.

Mr Peterson said lie believed -the majority of people were in favour of compulsory military service—even Labour supporters —but because of !be Government’s policy many were prepared to sink their own opinions. He believed that it was quite time compulsory service was introduced and an end put to the extravagant waste of moryay on military camps in an endeavour to attract recruits.

“I am a returned soldier myself,” said Mr Peterson. He claimed that the standard of the camps provided was higher than was necessary- He believed it was wrong to pamper the soldiers by the provision of some of the amenities provided in I lie camps. ‘•The waste of so much money is wrong,” concluded Mr Peterson, ‘‘and the only way, out of it is to introduce ■compulsory military service.”

CONSCRIPTION FAVOURED COUNTY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE DEFENCE LEAGUE MANIFESTO The Franklin County Council expressed itself in favour of universal compulsory national service at Monday’s meeting. The matter was brought before the council by the New Zealand Defence League, which, in a circular letter to local bodies asked for an expression of opinion on the issue. The chairman (Mr .1. N. Massey. M.P.), said that a public meeting of m-idents of the Franklin Zone D area had been held in Pukekohe recently. The meeting had been well advertised and extensive publicity given to it and therefore the resolution of that meeting could he taken to represent the opinion of the people of Franklin area. Mr Massey moved that a copy of the resolution passed at that meeting- " That this meeting of residents in Ihe Franklin Zone D, comprising Franklin County, Papakura and Pukekohe Boroughs, Waiuku, Tuakau and Mercer Town Districis, having considered the invitation of the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, Prime Minister, and the Auckland District Patriotic Council to undertake the organisation of a recruiting campaign in the Zone and, recognising the urgent necessity for al least 2000 more men being enlisted in Auckland Provincial District to make up the quota required for the Third Echelon ol our Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces, while promising to support the recruiting campaign in (‘very way possible. resolves that Ibis objective will be best attained by the declaration of the Government that conscription will b-‘ immediately introduced. The meeting feels that conscription will enable the Dominion besl to serve the British Empire and its Allies in the successful prosecution of ihe war” be forwarded to the New Zealand Defence League with the endorsement of the council. The motion was seconded by Mr W. A Peterson and carried unanimously.