UNDER VOLUNTARYISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 9

UNDER VOLUNTARYISM.

WHAT NEW ZEALAND HAS DONE. Correspondence between the Minister of Defence (Hon J. Allen) and the Hign Commissioner (Sir r.-iomas Mackouiiie) is proceeding on tho subject of the cabled comment by tho London "limes" regarding tho alleged failure of i<e\Y Zealand to carry out its necessavy enlistment under the voluntary system. On Friday night tho Minister received tho following cablegram from tho High Commissioner: " With relerenco to your telegram of August 28, I have communicated with "The Times," and an article quoting my denial, published this morning, states that no reflection on New Zealand was intended, and concludes in tho following words:— "'Nevertheless on the question of fact wo cannot admit the alleged inaccuracy of our statement. At the timo when the. New Zealand Ministry deckled to ask Parliament to give it the power of compulsion volunteers for drafts had fallen short of tho required numbers, and this was put forward as tho real justification of the measure by our New Zealand correspondent and by others who knew the facts of tho case, which, indeed, were matters of common knowledge. It was hoped that the mcro passing cf a Compulsion Act would bo sufficient to bring voluntary drafts up to strength, and to keep them so for somo time. That anticipation has been proved accurate, and Kew Zealand, in our opinion, is to be congratulated on tho acumen with which the situation was appreciated by her leaders, and on the patriotism with which her people accepted thoir remedy." " Other newspa)>ers publish to-day tho Governor's communication to the Colonial Office to tho effect that tho Government of Now Zealand desire tho statements contradicted, pointing out that the voluntary system has not failed, but in preparation for all eventualities before Parliament meets next year, the Government took the precaution of taking power to maintain their obligations to the Imperinl Government. The powers, of the measure have not so far been required. Ministers have always . avoided drawing a eomnari'son between tho efforts of New Zealand, and thoso of.other parts of the Empire, but have no reason to fear comparison as to the numbers dispatched under the voluntaiy system from New Zealand.

On Saturday tho Minister cabled to tho High Commissioner a? follows: " Pleiiso reply to ' Times' that it docs not understand the situation, and is- evidently ignorant that in addition to tho reinforcements drafts wo keep a reserve of approximately 1000 for contingencies."