RECRUITING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16541, 15 November 1915, Page 3

RECRUITING.

MEEITNG AT TOWN HALL. EARNEST ADDRESSES. * A recruiting meeting was held at the Town Hall steps on Saturday night, and a large crowd gathered and listened attentively to three earnest speakers. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided, and the singing of the- National Anthem opened tho proceedings. Mr Clark said that tho present war was different from any other the world had ever seen It was a war which tho Allies wero pursuing in order to live up to their ideals, a fight of right against might and against slavery, and a vindication of the claim of the weak to exist. Tho Germans had pushed on to ravish Belgium, and had anticipated no effective resistance from tho Belrrian army, which they had held in contempt. But they soon learnt that it was not contemptible, and that little army held them at bay. Tho cry of tho Motherland for help resounded throughout the Empire, and from all tho dominions men rushed to help. Wo wero proud to be of the same country and blood as the men who had gone from our shores. They had dono glorious deeds, and brought, world-wide honour and renown to our land. But it was not fair to ask our men to stand against overwhelming odds, and every man who could should join. Thero were certain ways of obtaining recruits which ho deprecated. There was no more contemptible act than tho sending of white feathers, for instance. An appeal should he made to the best motives in a man, and it was only by an appeal to the men's stern sense of duty that tho best recruits could be got. Tho men who went because thev thought they were doing the right thing were the men who would add laurels to those already gained for Now Zealand. He believed that on Thursday Otago would be able to send her full quota. But it must be remembered that she had to supply her quota every month till the war "ended. There was no pno who would be willinrr to desert the men who were fighting for us. Ho believed the spirit of patriotism was strong in the people, and that they would still come forward to fight for the right. All that was asked was that each man'should 1 consider the'question for himself, and ask himself what wae his duty. Ho alone could answer that question, but' let him answer .'t honestly.—(Applause.) Mr J. Inglis Wright said that no figures of speech on his part could add anything to the horrors of war. The present conflict wae a remarkable one. They were .iving in the most significant and awe-inspiring epoch the world had ever seen. In the past civilisation had fought civilisation, and barbarian had fought barbarian. But to-day civilisation was fighting barbarism, equipped with the most up-to-date weapons. If tho German Empire achieved its aim sorrow and misery would result for those over whom it obtained dominion. Germany hadalrcadv given an example of brutalitv and carnage, and everyone could do something towards tho attainment of peace. _ It had been said that the war was a capitalistic war. But those who said this should study the position to realise how untrue tho allegation was. Thero was nothing in the present war that could work out in tho interests of capital. Such an argument for failure to enlist was tho argument of cowards and shirkers, and not of the true men of the British Empire who had made Britain an emblem of freedom and liberty throughout the world. The war must be won. It was unthinkable that the Allies should lose. But the newspapers every day. showed the awfulncss of the struggle, and the cry always was "More men!" The places of tho men who had fallen must be filled, and the' men to fill them muist be obtained from tho different parts of the Empire. We must never bo overcome by the Germans, who wero under the heel of the Prussian ruling class. Wero we to be dominated iby such a class —a class in league with tho Turks, whose massacres of the Armenians had shown their true disposition? AVo were fighting for liberty and freedom, and for the maintenance of civilisation against barbarism, and the cry was always for men. Let those eligible men present be loyal to _ the traditions of the Empire. Britain had kept freedom for tho world, and by God's will she would keep it still, with the help of her noble Allies. Tho time had come for every man to enlist who could. Much talk was useless, for the urgency of tho case was known. Men might deprecate the value of their assistance because of tho paucity of the number that a country like New Zealand could ever supply, But who could tell how great or how small the extra force might be that was required to turn the scale? Let parents, sisters, and sweethearts refrain from keeping the young men back _ from fighting the fight • for liberty. Britain would emerge from the war victorious, and a stronger and greater nation than she had ever been before. There was not one who had sacrificed a son, a brother, or a sweetheart who would not share in the glorious feeling of triumph at the end of the war. Every man wdio could shoulder a musket counted. Let such men as were free come forward, and serve as a virtue before conscription, . if it came, turned that virtue into a necessity.—(Applause.) Mr J. H. Wilkinson paid a strong tribute to what had been c|one by the women of New Zealand and of the Empire in the way of sacrifice and of actual service rendered

to the course of justice Ho spoke feelingly of the deeds already done by the men of the dominion on Gallipob", and said that great things -were expected of the people of New Zealand because of their past record and their possibilities. The great men of the future, he thought, would gain many of their number from this country. The patriotism of the mtai of the dominion had been shown in the past, and the same spirit stirred the blood of the people to-day. Sir liiii Hamilton, after inspecting the_ Territorials of Otago at Matarae, had said, "If I am ever engaged in a European struggle, nothing would please me better than to have a few of these New Zcalanders at my side." That wish had been granted him, and his high opinion had been more than justified, for the New Zcalanders at Gallipoli _ had proved that they possessed the qualities ho had attributed to them. The country was proud of what her men had done. They had covered themselves with glory, and their deeds -would occupy an important, place in the history of the British race. Why had Britain entered the war? It was because she was strong, and it had always been her part to succour the peak. Belgium had been ravaged, and Britain had flown to her with the help which she was pledged to give. Men were required to continue the struggle and carry it to victory, and the eligible men had the opportunity of playing their pari in bringing about that glorious end. if they desired to protect their own womenkind, let them come forward. Patriotism and the defence of high principle had always been the watchwords of the British. A great victory in the present war could be attained only at a great price. He hoped that the men before him would be prepared to make the necessary sacrifice. Germany had used base means in her campaign, but the Allies would bo able to defeat her by fair methods, so long as the men would rally to the standard. That night they looked for the gcatcst resnonse that there had yet been in connection with the meetings. It was not. desired that conscription should be necessary, but unless sufficient men could bo obtained by voluntary methods eonscriotion must come. The Government supplied the equipment, but the men must come forward of their own accord, and he appealed to every man to do his part +o redress grievances and keep the flag of liberty flying.—(Applause.) At the conclusion of the meeting 11 men came forward, but five of them were rejected as being under the required ago. The other six were signed on. During the evening the Albany School Band rendered appropriate selections.