RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1916, Page 5

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

| SIR JOSEPH WARD AT GOBS ' t i,- JS STEREINQ ADDRESS By Associate* Gore, Last Night, Sir Joseph Ward addressed a recruit* ing meeting in the Theatre Boyal last night, about one thousand" people being present, including a large number of young men. The Mayor (Mr. D. McDougall) presided, and on the platform were the members of the strong and representative recruiting committee that has recently been set up. Sir Joseph Ward had a splendid reception, and his stirring address, which was listened to with the greatest interest and heartily applauded from time to time, is calculated to do a considerable amount of[ good in the cause of voluntaryism. Sir Joseph pointed out that New Zea« land had done magnificently up to the present (applause), but there were soma who did not yet realise their duty, and the Recruiting Board had been set Up for the purpose of pointing out to thro the way they should go (applause). Bo believed that Britain and hen Allie* would have a great and glorious victory, but he would like those who had don* very little in the present crisis to realise, what ifc would mean if Prussian milt. tarism were to be established in this country. Did the farmers who owned land free of mortgages, end those who had mortgages, realise what it would mean if England and her gallant Allies went down 1 They would get nothing for their land; as a matter of fact, ft Germany had the chance to fly her Hag over this country the whole of the value of the private estates, including busii ness houses and lands, would be infinitisimal compared to the amount that would be demanded from the people of this country in the way of an indent nity. "We are not on a recruiting tour Sat the purpose of delivery speeches and playing to the gallery," he added. "We are on this Recruiting campaign' because we realise the enormous responsibility that is placed upon us and upon every man and woman in the country." Referring to Home politics, Sir Joseph said that in the future every portion of; the self-governing Dominions must have a say as to how Great Britain was to; carry on the wars of the future. (Ajk plause.) It was impossible for the out< lying portions of the Empire to go <m without having a voice in the affairs of the great old Empire for whom eo many thousands were sacrificing their live*. Touching on politics, Sir Joseph said that the duty devolving upon the active spirits on both sides was to stanc shoulder to shoulder in the national interest. This was what the party leaders were doing. Although that state of 'affairs might wound the susceptibilities of some men on all sides, and lead to *. little irritation among individuals hero and there, the Natonal Government could not bother its brains about any phase of party politics when the wife, interests were supreme, (Applause.) "Let us win this war right out," aej said. "Let us see the flag of victory flying and an honorable and lasting peace proclaimed. The party politician* can do what they like afterward. (Ap. plause). This was not the time fez men to take advantage of a delicate and difficult situation, for the purpose «f pushing any political barrow. I say with all sincerity that I would rather sec both parties wiped out of existence altogether than see anything happening that would prevent us from carrying this war to a successful conoluaion. There should be no pin-pricking against any Minister or individual; They should hear and forbear and wait until the war was over for anything of a jarring nature. Seme people were crying cm for New Zealand to raise a large wKr loan locally. Well, why did not soar* of them subscribe to the recent two lion loan? He had been told, and people had written to him to the effect, that the Dominion must raise a' war loan and give five per cent. "But they would not get it; they won't get more than four and a half' per cent, for an internal loan, as far as I am concerned/' he said emphatically, amid an outburst of hearty applause. At the conclusion of his aildress, Sir Joseph was heartily applauded. Mr. G. J. Anderson, M.P., moved that this meeting of Gore citizens heartily thanks Sir Joseph Ward for his addresß, that it approves and adopts the scheme of the National Recruiting Board, and pledges itself to assist the committees of the district in making it a thorough success. The motion wan carried unanimously and with enthusiasm, the meeting closing with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. Subsequent!/, Sir Joseph was entertained at sv.pper by, the Recruiting Comxittte,

| MEETING AT WlfcTOtf , By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward visited Winton tb.it morning, and delivered an address In; support of the new recruiting pcheme. Despite the inconvenient hour the meet* ing was a representative one and WM well attended. Sir Joseph explained the t scheme exhaustively, and made a strong appeal for co-operation with the Govt ernment. He mentioned that the medi* 1 cal standard had been lowered since lut year, and said that men who had Mia rejected should be invited to offer their , services again, and that the Dental A** sociation had been instructed to deal with teeth troubles of recruits free ol charge. The country had a very heary responsibilify, and there was nothing,' to justify any of them allowing their,' political aspirations or inclinations . come between them and preveating th# i war from being won. That was the nja« ■ son that he had not raised 4 political! issue of any kind since the formation 0(1" the National Cabiiet. That was tit* ] only way they could stand ihoulder t#,i shoulder, and there bo poliliWi, settlement ef political difficulties unttl they had their victories behind thODi 1 and an honorable peace declared. <' In conveying a vote of thanks, the Mayor assured Sir Joseph of the ««ppyl' of Winton district for the schema 1