NEED TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23945, 11 October 1939, Page 6

NEED TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT

Voluntary Service Supported

VIEWS OF RETURNED MEN AT EDENDALE

Support for the system of voluntary military service was expressed at the monthly meeting of the Edendale branch of the Returned Soldiers Association.' The following motion was carried unanimously:— That as the Government has not seen fit to accept the recommendation of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association that conscription be introduced, the Returned Soldiers’ Association support the voluntary system as at present constituted and encourage the enlistment of volunteers until such time, as the Government knows the requirements of the British Government. The discussion was opened by Mr T, Hickey, who said he was not in favour of asking the Government to bring in conscription as it was in a position to know tne requirements of the country in this matter. They also had the assurance of Mr J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, that the Government was doing everything possible to bring the defence of the country into first-class order. They should leave the Government to carry out what it wished to do and not try to embarrass it. Mr R. H. Bissett said there was a division of opinion on the question ana the Government was also not prepared to accept the view that conscription was necessary. He then moved the motion, which later was carried. This was seconded by Mr T. Robertson. Mr G. H. Smith said he considered that any recommendation to . discourage conscription was not logical. It was not a question of who should go or who should not go under conscription, but rather one of who should volunteer or who should not volunteer. The papers each morning revealed the fact that 40 per cent, of the volunteers were coming from the primary producing section of the community, and in the case of some of the dairy factories with which he was connected the point had been reached where they would be unable to carry on if the enlistments continued. A telegram to that effect had been sent to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin). More production would be required rather than the sending of men overseas, and to carry this out regimentation of the labour available was necessary. After more discussion the,motion was •carried. , It was also decided to support the establishment of “wet” canteens in military camps.