NEW RECRUITING SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 March 1916, Page 3

NEW RECRUITING SCHEME

MEETING OF NELSON ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Nelson Recruiting Committee avrs held at the Council Chambers last evening. There were present : The Mayor (Mr C. J. Harley), in the chair, Messrs T. A. H. Field, M.P., H R. Duncan, F. G. Gibbs, W. Lock, A. E. Mansford, R. \v. Stiles, TV. W. Snod»rass, Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Johnston, Captain Nicholls, Mr A. E. Hedges (secretary), and Mr C. G. Sidford (organiser). ORGANISER'S REPORT.

Mr Sidford submitted a report regarding his visit to various portions of the province and the progress of recruiting, from -which the following extracts are taken:— The cards have been handed over to the various committees, and are steadily cominjT in. Returned soldiers have been used where available, and have so far proved most satisfactory. Stoke, March 14th.—A meeting was held at Stoke, Mr Bolt presiding, fhev decided by vote to ask the National Reserve to take charge of cards. After various discussions they stated they were satisfied with our methods, and would endeavour to do their best to help forward the scheme. Brightwater, March 15.—The meeting in Brightwater was in conjunction with Waimea West. Mr Fairey was in the chair. The committee were- most attentive, and showed a thorough keenness to fall in with all suggestions I put forth. In fact, it was a pleasure tp address such an attentive committee. After going -thoroughly into the pros and cons of the scheme, my replies seemed to clear away all .difficulties. Mr Claystated that the Government should not accept married men, even if willing to to until all single men were out. even under conscription. They state that a number of men in the district are not enrolled. I explained my committee s requirement, which will be carried x out. A returned man was called in to the meeting, and I started him on the cards at once. Murchison. March 16.—At the request of the Murchison County Council, and arranged bv our committee, Mr Snodgrass, Mr Lock, and myself visited the district. The meeting was advertised m local papers, but unfortunatelv, owing to the show, a meeting could not be held that evening, as all the members of the committee were so busy as explained' by the chairman (Mr Win) and the secretary (Mr Fraser). Iney arranged to hold a meeting on the show grounds next day, where I addressed councillors, putting forth our■scheme: and Mr Lock ably helped: with one of his sterling speeches, calling to the public- for recruits. A poster calling foi recruits was put up on the show pounds as advised by sme, three enlistments being the result. .. _. t>;„t, Richmond, March 22.-Visited Richmond, and interviewed the .Mayorv Town Cktrk, and Gunner Pywell the district canvassers, at the Council offices, by ! appointment, as the roll was near comI pletion. Went into matters c« n » with cards, correcting errors, etc., and advised them to finish their roll, before Lstartinjr on outside districts I . im.«t lav thev have carried out everything ui ! a ,"prompt manner, Gunner Pywell showin cood progress in his work, and being.most anxious to please the commit- * WakefWd,: March 23.- Mr Tunnicliffe tookHhV chair at Wakefield meeting. Those present decided to get the National Reserve to do the work, and appointed Mr J- R- Clarke secretary ot committee. All were anxious to help us, and I have arranged for a returned soldier to help with cards. Tipper Moutere. March 24.—Mr Pugh was chairman of the meeting, and along with those present showed a keenness to 'fret the district under our scheme. >" ev Sported a number of single, men e.igible for service in Moutere, and were pleased at the Government's attitude in the mattes?, and the Hon. James Allen s speech! in Nelson making it so clear as to the duty of every single man in the d:sTapawera. —On mv -visit to this district' at the request of the chairman, Mr Macmahon, I am sorry to report to you that 'owing to the small attendance a meeting could not be held. However, , I instructed Mr Macmahon as to the requirements of our committee, and as I Private Arnold had ridden in 12 miles . to meet me, I arranged for him to canvass the district. Private Arnold, 1 I must point out, has done good work m ( the Howard and Glenhope districts. ; The sub-committee appointed have met.j frequentlv to confer, and have given me | every assistance, in their power, the { chairman (Mr Duncan) being foremost , in his offer to help, even motoring me , to Tapawera. All this has lightened the work, and made it a pleasure to t work for so energetic a committee. We , are also indebted to Mr Snodgrass and Mr Gibbs, while the Defence Depart- : ment, with Captain Nicholls in charge, are most ready to be of assistance. The following have assisted the association and saved a lot of time and expense by ■ use of motor cars:—Mr Salisbury' (Takaka), Mr. C. Chamberlain (Nelson), Mr Tatton (Nelson), Mr Duncan {Nelson), Messrs Newman Bros. There have been ■ offers from others. ! I advise that a letter be sent to Mr Kitto, Howard River, 'expressing pleasure at his action in connection with men working for him, and asking if he would look up men not on the roll in his district. I understand comment is made where men leave a district to be examined at Nelson, and then have to return This I find the case in most districts, and I would advise' the-com-mittee to try and overcome this dimCU I find that* recruiting is not advertised enough, and a letter has been forwarded to the board' asking for posters to be placed at all post offices and railway stations in this group, the signs to be non-perishable," as the paper ones get destroyed by wind, etc. I should 'like vour decision regarding ray visiting Marlborough, as it was pointed out by the Hon. James Allen that Nelson is responsible for the working of -the scheme there, and I suggest that a letter be sent to them that all cards be -forwarded to our office for checking, as cards sent to the Defence Department have to pass through my hands first. . I have now visited all districts, and organised the canvass and working of same in Nelson group. T might state that 123 registration cards are now to hand. The recruiting report cards are corhini? in in large numbers each day, and the work* is going on to my satisfaction. As our work now stands, a bright outlook is before us, and there is every hope of conscription not being, the order of the day. A large . number of returned men are canvassing in . different districts . at our committee's expense. I must say that even yet some districts want waking up to ' their' responsibilities under the scheme. After the recruiting Tenort cards are in,." and answers are gone over by me, I note some i-ather weak in replies, and these men might,/after an interview by

I me, change their opinion.. A number of i employers' even in' this town could help us. considerably whenl find, time to •-■n-. terview them. . Mr .Sidford, in reply to a question, said [that the 123 registrations were mostly by single men. The' Mavor considered that the report was very "satisfactory, and that the or- ' ganiser should continue his work. On Mr Stiles's motion/it was resolved that the names of those who have registered through the Recruiting Committee be published. ATTITUDE OF MARLBOROUGH. The Town Clerk, Blenheim, wrote stating: "A recruiting committee is being set up for Marlborough district, and its scope of operations will_ embrace Blenheim and. Picton boroughs, Awatere county;, 'Wafrau, Spring Creek, Omaka, Picton, and Pelorus road boards. . It is nop anticipated that we w.ill require the assistance of your organiser.' Nevertheless, we are thankful for your kind offer." Owing" to the attitude Marlborough had adopted, it was resolved that Mr Sidford should not go to that province. It was further resolved that the letter sent to the committee by the Marlborough Recruiting Committee be forwarded to the Hon. James Allen. NEXT WEEK'S SEND-OFF. It was resolved that the send-off fo next week's draft take place at the Church Steps on Monda yevening, instead' of at the Port on Tuesday morning ; and that both bands be asked to turn out. If wet, the function will 'be held at the J>ri!l Hall. It was decided to ask Mr R. P. Hudson, M.P., and' Mr Wallace Snodgrass to speak* at the farewell. CONFLICTING MEDICAL DECISIONS. A grievance was brought before 'the meeting. Returned soldiers who have recovered from wounds or illness go before a medical board. If declared fit for Turther service "they proceed to camp as a, preliminary to returning to-the front. On their reporting at camp they again appear before a medical board, according to the regulations. The camp board has in some cases reversed the decisions of the Nelson Medical Board, and returned men to their homes, much to their disgust, and, it was asserted, to the detriment of recruiting in their district. | It was resolved that a telegram be 1 sent to the Minister of Defence strongly ■protesting against returned men who have been passed by the Medical | Board as medically fit being returned |as medically unfit 'by, camp authorities.