MANPOWER FOR WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20067, 13 October 1939, Page 9

MANPOWER FOR WAR

EXPERIENCE OF 1914-18 CONSCRIPTION URGED MR. STEWART’S VIEWS “Many of the same problems that arose in the last war are beginning to manifest themselves in the present war,” writes Mr. W. Downie Stewart in the Otago Daily Times. “The most serious of these is whether the voluntary system of recruiting can be carried on for long without giving rise to grave injustice and unfairness. “It is impossible under such a system to provide for the calling up of men of military age in their right order,having, regard to their family obligations and other commitments. Nor can we make certain that essential industries and food produuction will be maintained. If my memory of the last war is correct, what converted Asquith to the need for conscription was the discovery that 10,000 munition workers had gone on active service and had to be recalled from France. In fact, as a witty English writer said, the voluntary system of

recruiting is neither vountary nor a system. It means that men are shamed or bullied into going who ought not to go—at least in the early drafts —that other refuse to go who ought to, and that chaos and confusion occur in essential industries. All this was proved in the last war, and it is a pity if we have to learn the whole lesson again at the expense of much waste and misguided effort. “In the last war it was not til! this country had enrolled, equipped and dispatched more than 46,000 men under the haphazard voluntary system that public opinion realised how extremely unfair that system proved in practice. In some families four or five sons enlisted, and in other families with the same number of sons not one volunteered. “In 1914, as in 1939, Cabinet entered on the war in the optimistic belief that enthusiasm and patriotism would furnish an ample supply of recruits. There was certainly more excuse for that belief in 1914 than now, for at that time the system of compulsory training of territorials had been in full -■ -swing for- three years or more. Hence there were plenty of trained men to draw on, and the response was magnificent. But when the casualty lists began to tell their melancholy story, and when it was found that coal-mining and other essential industries were being depleted of manpower, public opinion awakened to the inequalities and injustice of voluntaryism. Furthermore, the War Office asked us to increase our bi-monthly reinforcement from 1800 to 2500 men. The National Register “In September, 1915, after the war had been on foot for 12 months, it was decided to (ascertain the military strength of the nation. All men between the ages of 17 and 60 were required to register. Those between 19 and 45 had to answer a questionnaire as to their qualifications for military service and their willingness to serve. ■ The register showed that about 110,000 men were willing to enlist, including 33,127 single m,en and widowers without dependants. It also showed that 34,386 declined to serve on any conditions. “At that stage a board was set up to stimulate recruiting, and its members were Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward and Sir James Allen. Their appeal met with some success, but could not save off for long the growing demand for conscription. “Public opinion forced the hand of Parliament. In 1916 conscription came into force, about 18 months after the war started. “There is no lack of patriotism among our men of military age. But many of them are puzzled as to when they should enlist, having regard to their business or family obligations. The only men who can lead and guide them are the Cabinet Ministers, who are in a position to call on them in proper order, but this is only possible under conscription.”