THE RECRUITING. CAMPAIGN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 562, 27 November 1915, Page 10

THE RECRUITING. CAMPAIGN.

CATHEDRAL SQUARE MEETING A meeting arranged by the North Canterbury Recruiting Board was held in Cathedral Square last evening, when addresses were delivered by the Hon. Dr "McNab, Mr J. J. Dougall (commandant of the Citizens' Defence Corps), and Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P. The Tramways Board's illuminated car was drawn up in the Square, and helped, to draw attention to the meeting. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) presided. Mr J. J. Dougall said that, the Dominion now found itself in the position of having to find men for the' front, whether the. men were willing to go or not. There had been a great' deal of criticism of Mr Ashmead Bartlett for his statements regarding the Dardanelles campaign, but he could not agree with them. The British people would not be daunted by being shown the darker side of the war. On the other hand, it [would spur them to fresh efforts. It was due to Mr Bartlett's disclosures that the Empire knew that at Gallipoli it was up against the toughest problem in its history. Even yet, he believed, the Australians and New Zealanders would achieve the impossible at the Dardanelles, and add another page of imperishable glory to the history of the Empire. With regard to the medical inspection of recruits, Mr Dougall said; that he was sure that before the war ended the present rigid system of examination would have to be relaxed. The Germans were not half so fastidious, and did not reject a man on account of a crossed toe or a hollow tooth. He deprecated the attempt to introduce class feeling into the seriousbusmess of recruiting, and he was sure that the Labour Party would regard as a libel the loose talk about "refusing to fight for the fat man"—("Hear, hear.") At the same time he believed that no man should be allowed to make undue profits out of the war, and the sooner they put an end -to war profits the sooner they would get to the finish of the war. The need for men was very great, but in these days they could not adopt the methods of the press gang. This, however, made it all the more necessary for every available man to offer his services promptly.—(Applause.)

Dr Thacker said that the country had now reached the stage where thei men who could be most easily inducted to volunteer had already gone, and the problem now was to prevail upon others who found it difficult to get away to enlist, without having to resort to any form of compulsion. They had now to appeal to the men who had built up for themselves good social and professional positions, and who had dependents. They could get these only if the Government guaranteed that their dependents would be well looked after. More inducements should now be. offered to men to enlist. One thing which would help was a local camp, of which he was heartily in favour. (Applause.) He was pleased that the Minister of Defence had told the Mayor of Auckland that he was prepared to reconsider the question of local camps. Dr McNab had seen what the attitude of Christchurcli citizens was towards the question, and they hoped that he would report what he had seen to his colleagues in the National Cabinet. Dr McNab was heartily cheered on coming forward to speak. He warned his hearers against under-estimat-ing the strength of Germany. Every man in Germany was a trained soldier, and could be transferred from his home to the firing line in a few hours. New Zealand was the most remote part of the Empire, but if Great Britain were defeated, the Dominion would be one of the first'to fall as spoils to the victors. He made a stirring appeal for recruits, and warned those who held back that they would suffer severely after the war, when the country honoured those who had saved the Empire in the hour of its direst need.—(Lioud applause.) 9 The following resolution was carried on the motion of the. Mayor:— "That this large meeting of Christchurch citizens expresses its renewed confidence in the ultimate success of the Allies, and pledges itself to do all in its power to assist the authorities in crushing German militarism." A vote of thanks to the speakers was carried, and hearty cheers were given for "the boys at - the frost, and the girls who sent them there." Captain Simson is speaking at Rangiora on Monday evening on war matters, and will show picture slides of Egypt, Anzac, etc.