Correspondence

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 14 July 1916, Page 3

Correspondence

WHILE it is our endeavour to give correspondents every facility for the free expression of their opinion, it should be borne in mind that the views expressed do notffecessariiy, reflect the opinions of the Editor. (TO THE EDITOR.) Sir, —Could you give me any explanation of the increasing slackness in recruiting just now ? A careful perusal of the daily papers leads one to suppose that the enthusiasm for the war is on the wane. About two months ago, there was quite a boom in recruiting, and the last reinforcement* and the one going into camp now have been filled largely as a result of that boom. It has been pointed out to me that the boom was coincident with the introduction o* the Military Service Bill, and that the decline has followed closely on the whittling down of the more drastic clauses in the Bill. lam loath to believe that there are amongst us men who know their place is at the front, who yet will not volunteer until they see the arm of compulsion stretched out at them, and yet it is a fact that early in June, a number of young men signified their intention of enlisting, and though we are now half wav through July, their names are still missing from the lists of recruits, and some of the reasons they have given for not carrying out their expressed intentions are childish, to say the least. This trouble seems to be felt all over the country, and here in Huntly it seems to be acute, for, while we have an exceptionally large proportion of eligible men, our enlistments are few and far between. The thing that puzzles me most is, that Huntly is the place where the voluntary system has been boomed with loud voice and many motions. One would naturally expect that the people who are so strongly in favour of voluntaryism would show that they have the courage of their convictions by volunteering, but they don’t. Sir, I wish you could explain it. I cannot.

Yours etc., PUZZLED. Editorial Note: We give it up. The facts appear to be as our correspondent states them. The Town is stro- g y in favour of voluntaryism, or at any rate, many resolutions to that effect are passed, but the people who pass them do not volunteer, unless, indeed it is case of silence giving consent, and it is felt that the principle is carried out, when men do nothing, and thus tacitly volunteer to stay at home. Perhaps some reader can give an explanation.