RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 11

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

MEETING AT ASHBURTON. COUNTY COUNCIL TO ASSIST. CONSCRIPTION FAVOURED. A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held- yesterday to consider what steps should be taken in connection with tho new recruiting scheme. The chairman (Mr C. J. Harper), who presided, said the council should do all in its power to .help the Government. The communications did notstate' whether the Government would assist the council with funds to carry out tho campaign. He realised that tho movement would cost the council a considerable amount in organising meetings and so on. He suggested that the council should appoint a man to .travel throughout the county and do the organising work, each member of the council to assist in his particular riding. Ho moved— “ That the council agrees to assist tho Government to secure recruits.” Mr Harrison seconded thei motion. Air O. Reid said that he felt that the Government would have no difficulty in passing a law in favour of conshription. Ho felt very strongly on tho matter, and was, of the opinion that conscription would have to conn) sooner or'later. ‘ ' . , : G. T. Doherty said it was a matter for the Defence Departments, and,

not for councils rncl road hoards. To put it plainly, lie considered the scheme as at present was “absolute rot.” Even conscription in a modified form would be preferable. Mr W. T. Lill favoured the. Government being asked to bring in conscription. ft would only Bo a waste of time and money to try and carry out the recruiting scheme. If the Government handled the, matter in a practical way it would analyse the whole situation. It would find that certain people were producers, and these would ha.vo to be kept at home. Then it would find so many thousands who were not necessary for producing purposes, and these men could bo sent away. At the present time they were short of men for farm work, and why should the council have to go to these men and say “You have to go”? On theotlierhand,.there were others standing about whoso places could bo taken by women. Those were the men that should go. There were hundreds of men in New Zealand who had neither child nor chick, and still they would not go. Others would not go because they considered 5s per day was not sufficient. These men should he made to go instead of allowing them' to remain with the os sticking in their throats. He favoured recommending tho Government to bring in conscription.

Messrs G. Murdoch, A. Drummond and J. Cairns favoured supporting the Government’s proposal. The chairman said they would have to give the Government credit for trying to do its best. Ho considered it had dona well so far. 'Naturally, it did not care to bring in conscription until it had felt the pulse of the people, and this was one way of doing it—-through the local bodies- The scheme would cost money, and he considered tho Government should pay for it. It was impossible for the council’s staff to undertake the work. He hoped that, tho motion would ho carried without division.

Mr Reid suggested that the council should agree to the scheme, and also ask the Government to bring in conscription. Mr Lill said that while some of the councillors had spoken strongly they wore not opposed to tho Government, and the trend of the discussion showed that they were willing to help by suggesting that conscription should- be introduced. • The chairman’s motion was carried, Mr Doherty voting against it. ■ Mr Lill moved that tho Government should bo asked to bring in conscription .

Tho motion was seconded by Mr, Doherty and carried unanimously.

LYTTELTON. With tho object of stimulating recruiting in Lyttelton the Mayor, Mr AY. Radcliffo, interviewed the. executive of the Citizens’ Coastal’ Defence Corps on Thursday evening. After discussing the matter, it was decided that a public meeting should be called, and that Colonel A. R. Chaffev, officer commanding the Canterbury military district, and others, should be asked to give addresses.

NEW BRIGHTON. A recruiting meeting will be held at New Brighton this evening, commencing at eight o’clock. The North Canterbury Recruiting Board has arranged for speeches to ho delivered from the band rotunda by Messrs A. S. Clarkson and F. W. Johnston and Sergeant Seed.

AKAROA. There was a moderate attendance at a recruiting meeting held on Wednesday in tho Oddfellows’ Hall, Akaroa. The Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong) presided. Addresses were • delivered by the chairman and tho Revs A. H. Julius and J. W. Hayward, and a motion was passed that those present should aid the recruiting movement as much as possible. A motion affirming tho need of compulsory service, though not put to tho meeting, elicited strong support.

FEILDING. [Per Press Association.] FEILDING, February IS. A conference of local bodies hold here to-day decided to give the new recruiting scheme a trial. Councillors will bo asked to canvass their own ridings. An honorary recruiting officer at the meeting and others expressed the opinion that, the Government were the greatest shirkers. They had the National Registration cards. " Why not follow them up them selvas, instead of asking others to do the work?

GISBORNE. GISBORNE, February 18. A meeting of local bodies’ representatives to-day passed the following resolution :—“That this district cannot see its way to fall in with the Recruiting Board’s scheme and nrgos the Government to bring in conscription as soon as possible.”