OUR PART.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 8

OUR PART.

MEN FOR. THE AVAR

NEW ZEALAND MUST NOT

FALTER.

[FjtOM Ora Oosmspondxht.]

WELLINGTON, July 17.

Since the Speech of the Minister of Defence, advocating that Now Zealand should not lesson its reinforcements, fchero has been a decided change in the tone of speakers on the question of making 100,000 men our limit*. Mr Craigie, who continued the Ad-dress-in-Rcply debate to-day, said he was pained and surprised to hear members talk of stopping reinforcements. Ho hoped the. Government would be united on the decision to keep up the full quota, to carry out our contract. Our example had been a tonic and stimulant to the Old Land. The speaker urged the need of sacrifice on everyone. Members, though age was against them, should offer their services.

A member: Hove you volunteered? Mr Craigio: I did offer service in any capacity. (Hear, hear.) They won't take me, but my onlv son lias been in the London Scottish since- the war began. The speaker urged tho Government to commenco buying laud for soldiers, and immediately appoint a Minister for Returned Soldiers.

Mr Anderson expressed the opinion that a good deal of the cry to reduce tho reinforcements arose from the some cause as tho conscientious objection. "Wo must carry on our reinforcements or bo branded for ever as vain boasters,"' lie declared, adding the opinion that the property of shirkers who disappeared after being called up should be forfeited to the State, and that they should also he divested of all civil rights. He urged at the same time that more adequate provision should be made for the dependents of married men, and suggested that men with four or more children should only be used for home service.

Mr Isitt expressed his regret at the absolutely deplorable utterances of men who thought we should lessen our reinforcements. He thought these men were unwise in giving public utterance to doubts before, consulting the Government. Jt was n matter of intense pain to see the manhood of this country drawn into the maelstrom of the war, to sco women prematurely aged by sorroAv and anxiety, but this was nor, the time to weaken or back down. We could not send a message to our boys that we could not support them. This would encourage our enemies and discourage, our sister dominions. Wo hoard'muoh about sacrifice. Belgium was a smoking, blood-stained ruin. New Zealand could not pretend to have reached Belgium's measure of sacrifice. If there was any danger threatening reinforcements our remedy was to urge the Government to organise all our resources, making every man and woman perform anv work the Stsite called upon them to do*. "'lt is the special privilege of a National Government," continued Mr Isitt, -not only to be attacked bv its enemies, but to bo kicked soundlv 'bv its friends." (Laughter.; The 'Government had three major duties. The first was the prevention of profiteering, the second the promo, tion of equality of sacrifice. Though it was impossible to secure absolute equalifv, it should ho striven for. Thirdly, it." was emphatically the absolute duty of the Government to prevent waste. Mr Wilkinson asked the; National Government to give him straight answers to tho questions:--What is our standing army, and what promises have wo been committed to in vcsjKot of reinforcements? In New Zealand, he said, there was a fooling- of unrest, many people saying openly that, wo had Vent too maiiy men and that it was time to have a national stock-taking. What would happen to tho country if tho present rat c of reinforcements was continued for a year? A secret session had been suggested to enable members to know what promise had been made on Xrw Zealand's behalf. "We have said," he went, on, "that wo are. in it to the last man and last shilling, and while we stand by this we don't want to contribute to that extent if not, absolutely necessary." Tho spea.ker urged a drastic combing out of the public service, railways and post offices. Members: What about farmers? Mr Wilkinson agreed that every possible single man should be taken, but if nil the men went from tho farms there would be nothing left in Now Zealand.