THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 3

THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM

IS IT BREAKING DOWN? NEED FOR CONSCRIPTION DISCUSSED. ■At the meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on Friday night a discussion took place on the question of the voluntary system versus compulsory service. The subject was introduced by the President (Mr. IV. J. Penn), who remarked that his own opinion was that compulsory service should nof be introduced until the voluntary system had been exhausted. The great bulk of British labour people were right up against compulsory service—conscription it was unfortunately called —and already there were young men leaving New Zealand because they feared compulsory service. Ho considered himself that New Zealand would be better off without this type of man, hut at the safne time it had to be remembered that the' fact that young men were leaving New Zealand would be known m Germany, where it would be greatly magnified and used as an argument that New Zealand was averse to the war. He moved that the Government should not enforce compulsory service until the voluntary system had been given every chance to provide the men required. Mr. J. Patou seconded the motion. We had started with the voluntary system and should go through with it if possible. He referred in strong terms to the bungling of the Defence Department, which could not expect men to come forward unless it made better arrangements. Mr. J. Clarke thought the voluntary system was breaking clown now, anil a new system should be introduced before it did break down. If we had compulsory service all the Government would have tb do would be to call up the required number of men. To-day the Wellington district was 200 men short, and consequently this number would be rushed into camp at the Last moment and go away without complete training. There was no doubt that the Defence Department was not doing as well as it might, and in some respects was making rather a "hash” of the problem. AVc were the only country winch had not got compulsory service, and if we could nave produced hall a million men when tne war urohe out, instead of about led,ooo, the whole aspect of the war would have been changed, ana pornaps it would not have Laacii place at ail. 'the cry ali over yew Zealand was lor more men, and it had been proved this week tuat the men could not bo obtained. 'ine system was surely creaking down, and wo should not wait until it broke down altogether. Sentiment had nothing whatever to do with the war. Yv o him to have lots of things we did not fine, and conscription was one of them. He was convinced that if tne Empire had had conscription nine montus ago it would be in a much bettor position today. He did not advocate conscription in times of peace, but the present times were different, and the call from tlio trenches was lor more men. Was it fair tnat the men in tne trendies sliould be kept there for longer periods than was right because men at homo would not go to the trout? Tnere were hundreds of men in New . Zealand who would not go to the front, and had no intention of going until they were compelled to. Y oluutary service was now breaking down in December, and what would be tire position in January? The slackers could only be got at by conscription. Mr. F. S. Johns instanced that Lord Derby’s scheme at Home had hot broken down, and be thought there was every indication that it would not. This, he considered, was a strong argument in favour of the voluntary system. Mr. Baton said every cifort should be exerted to matia the present system a success. The system of medical examinations should be revised, aud more facilities given to recruits. Mr. 0. N. Firth said it was not right that those willing to sacrifice their lives should "have to fight for those unwilling to come forward. Mr. J. D. Hole attributed, the break-ing-down of the system to the utter mismanagement of the Defence Department. The President did not think there was any need to fear that the quotas to be called up in a fortnight would be short. The motion was carried without dissent.