STRAIGHT TALK BY MAYOR OF AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14742, 22 October 1915, Page 4

STRAIGHT TALK BY MAYOR OF AUCKLAND.

Some vigorous views regarding the Defence Department's recruiting methods were expressed by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Q.unson), in the course of an interview the other moririug. “Some statement is due from‘ths Minister for Defence as to why the quotas drawn from each of the four military show such a strikdisproportion,’'.‘declared the Mayor. "We.-all knoW that Auckland is not’the j largest of the military areas. We know, I further, that Auckland is being called supply 40 per cent, of ..the; nien mch for (UK reinforcements, t One d|o|- ■ not complain about ‘this if the men fire ready and willing'to go'. But the point is this; Tlio demand for men is going to continue for many months. If Auckland is to be depleted now to cover the- 1 delinquencies*" of Otago and Canterbury", ! what is Auckland's position going to be in six or eight months’ time? If the dis- 1 trict is to continue to be- drained at the present rate it will have been bled to death during a period when, under an equitable system, we would not have experienced the slightest recruiting difficulties. Tlie question is therefore: Why is Auckland Military District being called upon to supply 40per cent, of the men required at the present time? What explanation can be made for this extraordinary demand in view of the position in the four military areas? In view also of the population of those areas, and in view of the conditions which have obtained in the matter of responses during the past twelve months. Auckland empliaticallv wants an answer from the Minister. With the Hon. George Fowlds and Mr \V, A. Bnddoe, I have during the last three weeks been over the grea-W portion of the Auckland Military District. Everywhere we have had it impressed upon ns that the present svstem of registra-.. tion is entirely unsatisfactory, and is the prime obstacle in the Wav of success at the present time. If the Department will only overborne its stubbornness, and adopt ■ a policy of direct enlistment with, concentration cdtaps in the four respective military areas, there would. I am convinced, be an immediate solution of the recruiting problem, for, despite everything saidto the contrary. there are -lard* numbers, of men—and we found this to I>c the case? only last night at Taumarunui—who-can-not be expected to wait about the centres dointr nothing. When they find that they cannot go straight into camp they naturally enough return to take no other contracts. and so are lost to the reemitin" ranks for' further long periods. This is typical of the position thronnrbont Die Auckland district. Wo have had splendid meetings everywhere, but it is hard . uphill ’"ork against the present attitude of the Department. The Department is entire! v olit of touch with the mblm vWon this matter. Throughout the district we have found a feeling of utmost loyajtv. and a desire to strain evetv nerve ■ inmeeting with the reonivements of . the situation, but some .assistance and a. rea- , sonablefaPiendroent in the mxi°ting system is expected of the authorities.” 1 1 . "i"" i■"■.■■l.i.iii ,