RECRUITING RALLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9171, 11 October 1915, Page 7

RECRUITING RALLY

ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING SPEECHES BY THE MAYOR AND MINISTERS. SEVERAL (VOLUNTEERS COME FORWARD, The mooting called by tho Major (Mr ,'J. P. Luke) on Saturday night for ' the purpose of stimulating recruiting: was successful in its object. There. ,-ivas a largo attendance of the public outside the main entrance of tho Town Hall, and the enthusiasm that was displayed left the impression that the day is far distant whoa if will 1)0 necessary to outer upon a system of conscription in order to secure the requisite number of men to fill tho ranks, caused through wastage, of the Dominion's gallant heroes who are assisting to fight the battles of the Empire. The speeches wore of a patriotic nature, and the invitation to the young men to enlist was freoly responded to. Tho committee-room of tho council was, for tho time being, converted into a ideorulting office, and n number of' gentlemen wore kept busily engaged, to a late hour, enlisting recruits, while in tho Mayor’s room, medical men ' were occupied in examining tho young men as to their fitness for service at the front. The Mayor, in thanking the assemblage for responding to his request, outlined the history of the wax and tho reason why- Groat Britain had taken up arms in, of Belgium, tho gallant little nation that had fought so bravely and well against overwhelming odds in defence of their homes. Britain bad •■.given. France her assurance that sho would give assistance in preventing the Huns from overturning and laying waste the territory of Franco, and that promise was’being faithfully kept. It had been said that provided Great Britain had not entered into the straggle, war would have boon averted. Facts disproved this as it was not until peaceful gium was attacked that Groat Britain threw her weight into' the struggle of right against might.' 1 Without the help of Britain, France would have been overrun, and it is certain that Russia could not have carried on the war single-handed, and this task tvoilld. ■have eventually fallen upon the British nation. Great Britain was governed hy the democracy, and tho Government liad to place every card upon the table in regard to votes for naval and null--1 tary matters. Germany, on the other

hand, built up ior army and navy in a largo measure secretly. “Canid any self-respecting nation, when appealed to refuse a helping hand when a weak one was having its women violated, its "children-destroyed, and its lands laid waste after the manner of a desert i place?”’ remarked the speaker. ’ Con- ; tinning Hk Worship said that Gor* : many wanted colonies. _ They had their eyos upon 'Australia und Now .Zealand, and if they got a footing ' .would aflsurodly troat our women -a-ud • children la the same manner as those of Belgium. “Support has been promised to your pals at the Dardabelles, and I appeal to mothers and -fathers to allow their sons to go. Lot ■ tis from to-night assure those fighting 'at the Dardanelles _ and in.. Flanders • that support ia coming, a plain honest ■ message that the boys from Australia and New Zealand are hurrying to their assistance to bring about a •glorious victory and-the lasting peace 'of the world.” (Applause.) The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister for Justice) said that one coUld not help tut view ,'Vith the utmost pride the parade of 6000. of the best young men the Dominion could produce, through the streets of the city. Young men who were prepared to give up the pleasure of, living fur the glory of dying fur their country. (Applause.) It was. a 1 sight never to bo forgotten, and there • had noTOT* boon on© liko it in tn© city of • Wellington. He appealed to iho young ■ men present with every confidence ' that they would do their duty, and when the history of the war was.wm* ' ton up iu would bo read with pride, the ; cixmtanoity of -enlistment,■ that had : taken place in New Zealand, and that no slackers existed,* The Mayor was ’ calling upon tho young ,mon to help i Uioir comrades -to bring the war to a speedy end. and satisfactory to tho as- : i tion'. A peace that would bo only hind- • ing for perhaps three or four years isottld not bo thought of. but the peace of tho world must bo assured for at least one hundred year*. The present was probably_a critical stage of the war . nnd a supreme effort should bo mode to ‘send every‘available man into the fir-ing-line. There should ,bo no delay, and mAT it never ho said by those id tho firing-line that their comrades in ■ Now Zealand have failed to do their duty. The present meeting .was one of the first of its kind hold in Now Zea- ' land’, and when Parliament was over meetings of a similar nature would be held in all parts of the Dominion. New Zealand had led, in legislation, and compared with population it is .sincere*. I ly trusted that die will keep in the 1 van with, recruits. Germany must bo ! broken, never to rise again. • It Is tho duty of every yodng man *o offer his services, so that ■ there may bo a permanent peace throughout the world. Sine© August 4th. 19U, including the men that went to Samoa, New Zealand has sent away 87.000 men, which, with a ' population of a littlo ovor a million, is a great achievement. By tho ©nd of th© month 10.000 men will be in camp, besides .which 400 men have been, secured at tho request of tho British Government for tho work of tunnelling.. Groat Britain is the greatest nation tho sun over shone on. She has always ' stood for fair plav and justice. (Applause.) The Honi Jamos Allen (Minister for Defence) said there was a shortage in recruiting, and there was need to put the shoulder to tho wheel. Wo have ourselves, whatever may happen, to keep tho ranks of the troops wo have pout away filled, and for tho next i twelve months ■thoroi is & real necessity •for Tocriuta in order that this wretch■od war may bo brought to inn end. To see tbo men _g<> ‘away that day mad© everyone feel proud, and sorry that one .was not go* ing away amongst them, "The call has come, and the call is a serious one,” said Mr Allen in conclusion. “Every two months 400 G men must bo sent away. These men have to bo trained, equipped and transported to thp front. It is not a spasmodic effort 'that is required, but a steady stream of recruits. Lord Kitchener has asked ns to keep up our reinforcements and wo must keep our promise,” (Applause.) Dr A. K. Newman, M.P., said that letters were being received from tho men at tho front asking why their eom- ' radcs did not come. “There ia a devil of a moss here, why don’t you-come?” ,iho boys say. Ho (the speaker) Know ;V ■

the hoys on the football field and , bo knew that they were of the right stuff and would gO: (Applause.) The best recruiting agents were the pretty young girls, and ho asked them to use their influence. The “flappers” would make the boys rise to their sense of duty to those in the firing-line, .and “when you have secured a recruit, girls, just kiss him once:for mother’s sake.” (Cheers.)-' Mr W, T. Jennings, M.P., who follow* ed, spoke very feeling, as, a father, who had three sons for tho Empire, and was weU received. He was followed ,by Mr J. Jolly, who mode a vary fin© sp©©clx a moments uotac©, ho having boon called upon by "Mr Luke, who espied him among the audience. Mr Jolly was heartily cheered for his effort, and it was fully deserved. After tho National Anthem had been sung, a -number of recruits made their way to tho enlistment room, and tho meeting terminated. LIST OF RECRUITS.

The following have been enrolled at the Town Hall, and had their papers returned from the doctor:—Robert George Dooley, butcher, Trontham camp; James. Andrew Pederson, general labourer, Wainui-o-mata; Frederick William Wheeler, .shepherd, Wai-nui-o-mata; - Harold -James Crawford,. clerk, TPetone; i Percy Mason Wright, painter, Wellington; Harry Leonard Hall; labourer, ■ Khandallah;; Andrew Anderson, cook, ' Wellington; ■ John Pearce, labourer, Silvorstream; William Edwards, labourer, Silver stream; Rupert Latimer- Matthews, clerk, Wellington ; JamoS Arthur Shaw, driver, Wellington ; Jorotniah Myers, cook, Wellington; James Martin, clerk, Wellington; Alfred William Whittington, compositor, Wellington; Harvey Courtney Soaife, seaman, Wellington; ‘ James Lewis MoArley, : derk, Wellington; Arthur Leopold Meuli, mechanic, Wellington; Erie -Charles Fairbrother, engineer, Wellington; William Wallace Beard, driver, Wellington; Frederick .Bennett Board,’ tailor-out, Wellington; Archibald Gamer, Government shops, Petone; James Owen Henry Lopper; Leonard George Muir, drivor t Wellington ; Frank Edward hides, driver, Wellington ; Frank Edlam Boon, oook, Wellington ; Frederick - Harold Barker, mechanic, Wellington; William John Stevens, driver, Wellington; William Edward Wilton, plasterer, Wellington; John Rander, Rogen, accountant, Wellington ; James Thomas Alexander Gibson, Trontham; Walter James Hazlewood, timekeeper, Lower Hurt ; James Hoadifen, driver, Wellington; Arthur Charles , Pye, Wellington; Robert David McGillivray, Wellington; Francis Edgar -Trim, railway employee, Wellington; Bryan'Hardy Turton, electrical engineer, Wellington; Herbert George Blanch, builder’s labourer, Wellington ; Healey Roy Munson, chomiat’s assistant, 1 ' Wellington; George Bert Vince, wire mattress-maker, Wellington ; Lionel John Lawson, clerk, Wellington; Albert Montague Bramley, milkman, Wellington; John Arthur Peacock, : driver, Wellington; Albert George Skinner, motor-tyro maker, Wellington ; George - McKenzie Campbell, civil. servant, Wellington; Frank N. Modon, clerk, Wellington; Joseph Stuart Bruce Haig, clerk, Wellington; Kenneth McKenzie, farmer, Masterton; William Ganelin, carpenter, Welling-ton;-Patrick Burke, machinist, Wellington.

Wo are requested to state that the recruiting office at tho Town Hall will be open daily from H a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 p.m, to 8.30 p.m..'- 1 ■’ - ■ .■ ■

DIRECT ENLISTMENT NEEDED

Frees AzKMlatloa. AUCKLAND, October 10After a tour of provincial centres in connection with tho unification of patriotic funds in the Auckland military district, the Mayor of Auckland. states that everywhere it ia apparent that the system of direct enlistment is urgently needed. A largo number of men who would have been available have to return to occupations in the country owing to being unable to wait ofl the convenience of the Defence Department. This • position was reported in every centre he visited.