The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1939. The Conscription Issue

Northern Advocate, 22 December 1939, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1939. The Conscription Issue

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper J

THE question of conscription as a means of raising an , adequate expeditionary force in New Zealand, and maintaining it at full'strength in Europe or wherever it may be | required for service, has been re-opened in an interesting manner | during the past few days. i Members of the First Echelon of the expeditionary force are j now on final leave, and soon they will be moving out of camps, which will then have to be filled by the Second Echelon. Recruiting for this echelon cannot be regarded as satisfactory up to the present, and this fact has led to a renewed demand for the institution of conscription, which, it should be needless to say, is the most equitable way in wnich military service can be apportioned to the manpower of any country. ' The Government, on its part, is satisfied that the men j required for the expeditionary force will be forthcoming under the voluntary system at present obtaining, and apparently it will not introduce conscription unless the voluntary system definitely fails. ' , . - The Minister of Defence has infinite faith m the loyalty ot the men of New Zealand and their readiness to take up arms when convinced of the necessity for so doing. The Minister, therefore, intends, it is said, to inaugurate a recruiting campaign throughout the country. \ • This is a matter in which the whole-hearted support or everybody is essential, and it is to be hoped that the Government will adopt such measures as will appeal to all classes and secure their co-operation., It is true that the course of the war, until the past few weeks, was of a character which did not bring home to the people of New Zealand that hostilities on a major scale are in operation. In addition, there has existed doubt whether men who volunteered their services would really be required to, go overseas or' whether they would return to their homes after undergoing preliminary training. This uncertainty has been a legitimate cause of hesitation on the part of many young men who very naturally do not wish unnecessarily to prejudice their future by interrupting studies, sacrificing property, or leaving positions which might not be available if they were given extended leave from camp after a short period of training. The existing uncertainty has also no doubt been seized upon by some who,.while giving lip service to loyalty, have utilised the excuse provided for abstention from going into camp. In all these circumstances, it is only natural that there has not been the rush of recruits which would take place if danger of attack by an enemy were imminent. Now, however, there is no room for doubt as to the part New Zealand is expected to play in the war. Her sons' have already won undying fame by their exploits in the air and on the sea, and it is needless to say that if land fighting had taken place they would have emulated the deeds of their predecessors, the immortal Anzacs. The time has come when the voluntary system must justify itself or be replaced by conscription, which should have operated since the outbreak of war. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, who served in the Great War, is convinced that the voluntary system, if given a fair chance, will provide all the, men required, but he is definitely of opinion that the Government has not done what it should to arouse the martial spirit of the men of the Dominion. He urges a large-scale recruiting campaign, and suggests the taking of a referendum to ascertain the mind of the people upon the question of conscription. Whatever is to be said in favour of a referendum, the final decision must rest with Parliament, which cannot evade responsibility in so important a matter. This is a question which might well be considered at a special session which it has been suggested should be held when th£ Hon. Peter Fraser returns from the Homeland, where he has been in personal touch with the statesmen, soldiers and sailors of the Allied nations, and should therefore be in a position to give, confidentially, to Parliament valuable information and advice required for the adequate participation of New Zealand in the Empire’s war effort. The suggestion that Parliament should be called together has been made by the Leader of the Opposition, and the Prime Minister has replied that if, after Mr. Fraser returns, it is deemed advisable to convene Parliament, that will be done. It should be done. There are other important questions to be considered by Parliament in the interests of New Zealand’s solidarity of purpose during the war, and if a spirit of compromise and mutual toleration were to animate the dominant political parties, which would happen if the leaders of the parties made an appeal to that end to their supporters, there is no doubt that New Zealanders would present an unbroken front to a common foe.