DR M'NAB'S VISIT TO WALMATE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12823, 15 April 1916, Page 8

DR M'NAB'S VISIT TO WALMATE.

PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION

Very complete arrangements were rnr-le for the visit of the Hon. Dr M'Nab, and much credit is due to the Secretan- (Mr T. G. Lewis). Thc Recruiting Committee. Bands, Territorials, and Boy Scouts paraded to the hall headed by the Brass Band. The Hall was packed to thc doors, and large numbers Of people had tc -stand. The Brass Band was seated a! til? back of the stage. Tiie Deputy-Mayor (Dr Hayes) occupied the chair, and seated with bim were the Mayoress (Mrs Francis), the Hon. Dr M'Nab, members of the Reeruiting Committee, representatives of the Borough Council, and other leading citizens. The Chairman' read apologies from Messrs Anstey and Talbot (M's.P.), and Mr Rhodes. The Deputy-Mayor gave Mr M'Nab a hearty welcome, and assured him of a patient hearing. t)r M'Nab. on rising, was greeted h loud applause, and throughout his speech was applauded vigorously at frequent intervals. He said he was pleased to be able to serve his country in placing the new recruiting scheme before the people. The Government had pledged themselves to send forward 2400 men each month, and. while, they did not want more than that number* they could not do with less. Lord Kitchener had said the war would last three years, but he did not suggest that it would be finished then. He was not able to say when the war would end. but believed the great turning point was in sight. The Germans realised this after the failure at Yerdnu. He had always advocated compulsorv military training, and a few months after he bad started to advocate it. the principle was adopted. He referred to the Boer war and. having explained the method of sending men and horses at that time,' stated that one man sent to Egypt -was worth three of those sent to South Africa. The introduction of universal militia training had already proved- its value. The speaker said he hoped the present voluntary system would suffice, but if it did not then conscription must bt KroufSht in.—(Applause). He was nroud- of all their officers down to tlio Lance-Corporal, because they were all New Zealanders. The Government have decided to finish this war (if they can) as they started, under the voluntary svstem. We are going to do our best, but first of all we have got to make up our minds that we are goina >o finish this -war. If we can't finish <t hv the voluntary system, we will nave to adopt another system—that of compulsion. The people in the Nort: Island have often asked what was wrong with the South Island; why it w?s not providing its quotas. But the fact was that large numbers of young men had drifted to the North Island and these were the men that were recruiting, the men of the adventurous nature. I wish to say a few words to the single eligible men. I wculdn t allow any married man to take the oath until all the single men have enlistedSome of you may have been charged with being a shirker. I am not going to do that, but where are your companions? Have you ever stopped to think what is going to happen at the conclusion of the war, what te going to be the position between the man that went and the man that stayed at home. Some people think that these men are not going to be looked after when thev come back, but this is not so. Do vou suppose that any Government would dare to treat these men as previous ones were treated. These "men are. going to come back and they are going- to fill all .the towns in this countrv and all the positions of prominence. In rov capacity as Member of Parliament,' I often have letters, unfortunately from mothers and fathers, asking .that I will use my influence to stop their sons from going. I will only say this, that the sooner these men leave the country the less trouble there will be when the boys come .home. I believe that- in spite of this hornble war and the awfulness of it, I believe tbat it will produce an enormous amount of good. I have no doubt in my mind that these men will be the more able to face the problems of the future. In concluding my remarks I would like to say this: that the only, two members of our family (who were educated in Germany, and who were eligible for service at the outbreak of war) joined the Army—one as a doctor in the London Scottish and the other as a private." i At the conclusion of the Hon. Dr M'jffab's speech the Band' played the Marseillaise. Mr Pitcaithly proposed a vote of thanks to the Hon. Dr M'Nab for his very able address. He said this was not the first occasion on -which the hon. gentleman had! given his services 'freely to his country. He had done work that must have entailed years of laboi and thousands of pounds of his qyrx money. It was little wonder that we have "him with us to-night urging his country to rise up and do their duty. One has only got to go up Queen street on a Saturday night to see how many shirkers there are —(I'll use the word if the. Doctor won't). After a fortnight's canvassing I have come to the conclusion that the only fair thing is to enforce conscription. Why should one mother send all Iter sons while others' sons stmt the street withi a cigarette in their mouths. I say thisr is a disgrace. With conscription as a rule I do not hold, but with conscription as an emergency Ido hold". Why don'>t the Government do what tho people want? I know the majority of the audience are with me, and I want all who are in favor of conscription to hold no their hands. This caused' a' sea of hands to be raised. Mr Studholme seconded the motion, and said he had!' been canvassing the district and had received answers that were really shockins. Some young men said straight out that they were waiting for conscription. He consider-' ed that! if we conld not find a better system than the present we would wake tn> and find that we were beaten. The Chairman called on the audience to carry the resolution to. Dr M'Nab by acclamation. v , Dr M'Nab thanked the audience for their* attention', -and resolution of

The meeting closed by -the playing of -the': National Anthem by taie, Brass Band. ■■'■;>; -,-;>-,..