NATIONAL ESERVE

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1915, Page 3

NATIONAL ESERVE

_^^afc. ■■■-! "Breathes there a man with soul so. dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land." Si V) — -On behalf of the local branch of the National Reserve, I take the liberty of appealing to you for your practical assistance in connectior with the great' crisis through which our Empire is passing. It is superfluous for me to say that it is the duty of every man who has the welfare of his -country at heart to do everything in his power at the present juncture to protect her and to assist her in bringing this terrible war to an early and satisfactory conclusion. To help financially is good and necessary, but something more is required. That something is MEN. The great outsanding need at the present moment is MEN. Indeed, so acute has this need become it is more than probable that conscription will be forced upon the nation at no distant date. In view of this I would appeal to you to become a member of the National Reserve at once, and to use your influence with your fellows on its behalf. The training received in its rinks will be of inestimable value to those who will be called upon later to g-o upon active service, and will save our country time and expense. I may point out that several of our members who received their training ; n the National Reserve's ranks have V»^en recommended as non-commis-sioned officers for the Reinforcements. A recruiting squad is being ron«ed. the members of which will b<--'rilied separately until capable of taking their places in the main body, md it is to be hoped that those who 'mve'nnt yet joined will seize the opnortunity thereby afforded recruits. T would also appeal to those member' 'vho have ceased to take an a-ctive nart in the work to resume their nlaces in the ranks immediately, and nlso to assist in securing for the movement the success it undoubtedly deserves. Some time ago when the Ger man menace in these waters was removed, a belief gained ground that the National Reserve was no longei necessary, and to this was due the defection, of not a few, but recent developments in Europe have proved that such a body has yet a real and valuable function to perform. Do not delay but act at once. Delay in a crisis such as the present is all in favour of the enemy. "A thousand years scarce serve to form a State: an hour may lay it in the dust." In conclusion, I would say let us see to it that we are not of the "kidney" of the patriot who drew from Lincoln the rebuke: "I have found, sir,, that some people who are so precious ready to spill the last drop of their blood are extraordinary careful about spilling the first drop." Treat 'this as a National appeal and hand in your name to the Secretary, Mr E. Guinness, during the week or at next Monday's parade. — I am. etc., P. MACKENZIE, President National Reserve.