CALL FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13699, 1 June 1915, Page 3

CALL FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.

AN EARLY DECLARATION DEMANDED. THE COUNTRY AROUSED TO DANGER.

London Times and Sydney Sod Services.)

(Received June 1, 8.30 a.m.) , ■ LONDON, May 31. The Times declares that evidence is accumulating on all sides proving, that the country requires an early declaration for national service, followed by instant action by the new Government. This . is the only remedy for unfair methods of recruiting and the deficiency of munitions. Labor disputes are depressing and there is a sense of national importance at a time when, every main and woman is needed. '

;' A special correspondent of the Times, dealing with the munitions question, says drinking is worst on the Clyde and is an appreciable 'evil on the Tyne. In the Clyde workships he saw a batch bi men turned out oy a foreman, too drunk to work. * They brought m spirits. The unusually large wages form the principal cause of the evil. He advocates prohibition of spirits. He remarks that many men are overworked and subject to continuous strain and to danger of breakdown. The Times, m a leader, says the loss of the battleships at the Dardanelles is a •grave matter, which has Jstruck deep at the national equanimity, which is already seriously disturbed. If the nation thereby realises its position more plainly, the losses will not wholly have been vain. It is necessary that all should cease speculating on the early end of the war, and face the existing ; facts without anger pr fear. While present conditions obtain, we shall probaWy lose other battleships. It is certain that the new Government is carefully considering the Dardanelles problem. Britain is paying heavily for her unpreparedness and subsequent reluctance to face the full v requirements of the position. She has awakened now, and is realising that every other consideration, mugt be subordinated to the necessity of beating Germany. _Lord Denman, m a letter to the Times, advocates national service, and says the first step is to register all the men m the country, classified according to age, and trade or occupation. He bases his arguments on the Australasian experience. . Major Hunt. H.J?., cabled to the secretary of the British Immigration League stating that a majority of the people ot Britain are slowly realising what the war means and that compulsory training is absolutely certain now. The new Government, he Bays, will be a great help m accomplishing this.