Untitled

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 532, 23 October 1915, Page 8

Apparently it is impossible to expect the Minister of Defence to consider the local camps proposition on its merits. On his recent journey through Christchurch the C.D.C., whose efforts on behalf of recruiting have been untiring, sent a representative deputation to the Minister, and adduced every good reason why Christchurch should have a receiving depot to which recruits could be taken as soon as they enlisted. The need for such a camp has been demonstrated beyond argument, yet Mr Allen, whose attitude is as stiffnecked as it is illogical, can say today that he is "pretty sure the lack of a local camp is not the real reason for the present slackness" of recruiting in this province. In saying this, the Minister throws a sop to Otago, where he finds (he declares) "a much better spirit than in Canterbury." He added: "I am sure they (the people of Canterbury) will do their duty like people in the rest of the country." What about the obvious duty of Mr Allen and his military advisers in respect to a rational and sympathetic recruiting policy? To our mind that duty has been flagrantly slummed, both by the Minister and the department of which he is the head. The matter of obtaining recruits has become so .serious in and about Christchurch j that it is high time a serious appeal 'was made to the Prime Minister and ihis colleagues to have the Minister of Defence called to account. His unbending military mind, coupled with a characteristic, tendency to resent suggestions as reflecting on his personal capacity, has made Mr Allen a veritable hindrance to enlistment. That is the experience of Canterbury, at any rate, and a similar opinion is general in Auckland. It is an intolerable state of affairs, j which should be ended at the earliest possibla opportunity.