AUSTRALIAN RECRUITING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15198, 19 April 1917, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN RECRUITING.

"NEED OF THE MOMENT." CONSCRIPTION QUESTION. The position in regard to recruiting in Australia was dealt with by Mr Joseph Cook, Minister for the Navy, in a .speech in Sydney last week. Reinforcements, said Mr Cook, were the great need of the moment. They must be secured and tsent. The voluntary system was to be employed to that end. A great deal of laborious effort was being put forth to make people believe that they would trick them into conscription, that they should be recreant to the trust the people imposed upon them. But he and the members of his party pledged themselves to respect the verdict of the people. (Cheer*.) No one could say what might develop in the future. But if anything unforeseen did arjee which threatened the safety of the nation the people would be consulted and their decision obtained. (Cheers.) There could be no conscription, therefore, unless and until the people desired it. (Hear, hear.)

In this connection, said Mr Cook, a question arose which Mr Tudor, leader of the anti-conscription party, should answer straightforwardly. Did Mr Tudor nay that if by any evil chance the whole Empire should be in dire peril and danger he would do nothing further to help in its defence? Would he.rather let the Empire go under than take any further steps to consult the people P By his answer to that question let the public judge his criticism of their attitude. They were out to fsave Australia and the Empire at any and every co**l. And if necessity compelled them—and not unle,-«—they would consult the and abide by their decree. Any other attitude on that life and death matter wm both pusillanimous and dangerous. (Cheers.)

Mr Cook reiierated that the chief concern of the National Goveramant would be to reinforce the men at the front in full and adequate measure, and when the noldlers returned home it was intended that they should reap the benefits and advantages of a generous scheme oi repatriation. Line.s had already been laid down, and the deails would shortly be promulgated of a proposal prepared with infinite labour by Senator Millen, and neither expense nor ability would be spared in making that scheme worthy of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by thc*e who would claim it as a right. (Cheers.)

THE CALL TO ARMS. STATE PREMIER'S APPEAL. The Premier of Victoria has forwarded the following message to the State Recmting Committee to be forwarded to portions of Victoria as an appeal for more men: "We require 16,500 recruit*; per month to keep Australia's fighting force at its full strength, and we are only raising one-third that number. Your comrades ATI calling you to help. Wc can never say we have done enough until the enemy is beaten. Every fit man who is free to go to the front should respond to thi call of duty in this supreme crisis of oar history. The men who have already gone have made the name of Australia glorious, and every man who now enlk'fs ii-. helping to maintain that splendid reputation."