RECRUITING

Southland Times, Issue 17660, 18 February 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING

* THE NEW SCHEME. TOWN' COUNCIL. SYMPATHETIC. At last night's meeting of the Town Council a circular signed by the lit. Hon. W. K. Massey, Sir .Joseph Ward, and the Hon. das. Alien, members of the National Recruiting Committee, explaining tue new scheme of recruiting, and inviting the Council’s co-operation, as it was necessary that the Defence authorities should have the practical sympathy and assistance of all local bodies and patriotic organisations in the dominion. The Mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) said that ho supposed that they could assure the Recruiting Committee that the Council would heartily co-operate. He could not see how, however, and surely it could not bo expected that members of the Council would go round the country canvassing for recruits. It would bo impossible for thorn to do such a tiling. However, he thought that every one of them would use his best efforts to induce men to go to the front. It was a very critical time.

Cr. Lonnie moved that the principle laid down in the scheme be accepted; that the Mayor call a public meeting of citizens, anti that Crs Bain, Stead and the mover be appointed to act with the Mayor in placing the scheme before the meeting. He did not believe that they were going to turn down the voluntary system in Southland, as no difficulty had so far been experienced in the past in getting the required number of men, nor did lie think there would he in the future. They wanted a new recruiting .committee, however. He did not suppose that such a committee would need to see the thing right through, but they could communicate and work with subcommittees throughout Southland. Under the present state of things, he believed in carrying on the voluntary system. • Cr. Lillicrap seconded the motion, hut said he did not know whether the Mayor, or the Council, should take the lead in calling a meeting. He thought that they should co-opcmte with other public bodies throughout Southland, and he believed that that was what was intended in the scheme. Ho suggested that the motion should bo altered in that direction. The Mayor should communicate with other public bodies. Cr. Lennie said that he had no objection.

Tlie Mayor said that the Town Clerk had pointed out to him that Invercargill had a roll of its own, and that each public body was supplied similarly. Cr. Lillicrap said that, in that case, they could act independently, but it might be better if the matter were gone into and discussed. Of course, they would all support the principle of the scheme, no matter how they might differ regarding methods. If the scheme would do away with the bringing in of compulsion, it would be a good thing.

Cr. Lennie said that his view was that Invercargill would act by itself, and each of the other local bodies would act by itself. ■ Cr. Petrie moved as an amendment that the matter be held over till next meeting. Meantime the Mayor could communicate with the other public bodies. Returned soldiers should be made use of for recruiting purposes. The recruiting meetings held in the past had not been of great service. The Mayor said that he thought that it would be wrong to hold the matter over. They should adopt the principle of the scheme meantime, and leave further action in abeyance. To hold it over would be to throw cold water on the scheme.

Cr. Dunlop said that the Town Council should give a lead to the other public bodies. In order that they might follow in co-operating. Cr. Stead said that the Council wanted the public to know that they gave the scheme their hearty approval. He said that he had found a large number of people who had become converted to' conscription already. The Town Council should take the initiative in supporting the scheme, and he objected to the putting of it off.

Cr. Bain said that it looked as if each public body was to work independently, but there were a number of bodies with the prescribed area allotted Invercargill, such as school committees and others, that could be communicated with. There should be two rolls provided, one showing the single men within each area. The Government could get that information from the registration papers, and it would have been a big help. He wan prepared to do much towards recruiting, but he objected to asking married men to enlist when single men were available. The Government had a right to be asked to supply a separate roll of single men, who ought to be first called on. There were, of course, a good many single men who had ties, but these could be sorted out from the others. • If they were going to call a meeting, it should be of representatives of bodies in the town itself. The Mayor said that he agreed with Cr. Bain that there was a necessity for two rolls.

Cr. Bain suggested that someone, say Sir Joseph Ward, should come down from Wellington to attend the first meeting, and explain the scheme. In fact, now that they had two Minister;; in the Cabinet belonging to the province, it would not bo out of place for both of them to come down. If anyone had been shirking the recruiting business, it had been the Ministers themselves. The two Southland Ministers in the Cabinet should come down and launch the scheme.

Cr. O'Byrno supported the scheme, and said that lie believed in the voluntary system. ■ If the Government treated men better, they would get plenty of men. Ho know of men in the sawmilling industry who had been receiving 12s per day, and by going to the front they would only receive 5s per day. That was not right, and it was up to the Government to increase the pay of the men. Quite a number of married men would go to the front if they were paid enough to provide for their wives and families. Cr. Dunlop; We arc not fighting for money. Cr. O’Byrne said no, but there were many on the other side making a large amount of money out of the war. The Government should take some of the money from the people who were making large profits, and hand it in pay to the men who were going out to fight. He would fight for the retention of the voluntary system so long as he was capable of doing so. After some further discussion regarding the details of the scheme; the motion was altered to read as follows; “That the Council heartily supports the Government; that the Mayor arrange for a public meeting at an early date; that a committee, consisting of the Mayor and Crs Bain, .Stead and Lonnie, be set up, and that the Ministers of Finance and Education be invited to attend the meeting.” On being put the motion was carried unanimously. SUPPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILS. (Per Unlied Press Association.) WELLINGTON. February IT. The Miramar Borough Council agreed to support the new recruiting scheme to the full extent of its power, hut is of opinion that the exigencies of the military situation demand greater efforts than can he obtained by voluntary service, and urges the Government to establish an equitable system of compulsory service. The Onslow Borough Council unanimously, decided to conform with the views of the Recruiting Board and give the central committee every possible assistance.