NORTH OTAGO PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12540, 11 May 1915, Page 1

NORTH OTAGO PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

PROPOSED RECRUITING CAMPAIGN. A special meeting of the North Otago Patriotic Committee- was held yesterday afternoon for -the consideration of a. proposal to 'inaugurate a recruiting movement. His \forship the Mayor presided, and there were present—Drs Douglas and Whitton, the Revs. J. A. J-oi'liore and T. Lar.son Robinson, 8.A., and Mi-Mrs- F. P. Lee. M.P., J. P. Malcolm, J'. Tavlor. W. G. Grave, C. H. Swinard, .T. Mitchell, H. Newton, W. \V. "Walton, J. Fraser, F. C. Hurry, R. Mllligan, T. S. Little, and C. W. Kent (Secretary). Apologies wore received from .Messrs W. H. Rose and F. Yenit all.

The Mayor in opening the meeting

said it had been called as a result of a. conversation witk Captain Redmond, v.'ho had stated that the demand for men was imperative. His Worship said that the young men of Otago had not come forward as ; they should have done, and had only given 800 as compared with Auckland's 3000. What he proposed was that the Committee should inaugurate a series of meetings throughout the country, commencing with a great demonstration in Oamaru on Saturday night. A camp was to be opened Jiere tin's. week, and Captain .Redmond had informed him tint GOO men would be in camp. It was proposed that those Territorials and the brass band and pipe -band should take part in. the demonstration, and Captain Redmond and his officers would do all ill their power to assist the movement. He did net think there were many young men available in town, and they should go into the country anil the back blocks and get hold of the farmers 7 sous. He did not know the boundaries cf the military area, but it might be necessary' to go as far as Naseby. He moved that a big recruiting demonstration be held in Oamaru on Saturday night, and that a series of meetings in the country bo inaugurated. Mr J. Taylor seconded the motion pro forma.

Mr Malcolm asked whether the demonstration was to be hold in a. hall or in the open-ail'.

The Mayor replied that it was proposed to hold it in the open-air at the Monument. Captain Redmond and his men would be there, with provision for enrolment.

I)r Wliitton asked what was to be done in regard to the meetings in the country.

The Mayor saiel it would be necessary to arrange for speakers and other talent. Meetings were being arranged in Dunedin and elsewhere. Something must- be done to infv.se life into the recruiting.

Mr \V. G. Grave said "that the point that struck him was the question, while thoy were asking tlic young men to enlist and go to the front, what wore thoy doing to qualify themselves for thenshare in the defence of the country. 'Every man should he enrolkd iu either the National Reserve* or a Riffe Club. If they went upon the platform .and pressed the ycung men to enlist they might be asked, "What arc you doing!-" Though the young single men should go first, it might became necessary for mi'Tud men to also go. and all should fit themselves for the task. The Row J. A. Lochere wouid like to know what was the basis of allotment population or only the number qtialilicd to become ncm its. There were many more young men in the .North than in Ota go, and the comparison made by his Worship might lie unfair. It was not often that lie went down town on a Saturday night, but on Saturday night last he had walked down Thames street and had been .struck by the large number of young men he had seen there, tile preponderance of whom were from tile country. Tlie Mayor said he was not aware, of the quotas of the different districts, but - $ quotas were out of the question. Men were wanted no matter where tliey came from. The quota asked 'for here was 250. He had not made the comparison with any disparagement of Otago, but in order to arouse emulation. At the same time it was a matter of common expression that Otago hacl not come up to the mark. He quite agreed with what Mr Grave had said in regard to all, men making themselves lit, but he did not think that that meeting was the place to deal with the subnet."

Mr J. Taylor asked ]io\v they could go upon t-lii' platform and urge young men to enlist until they hud represented to the Government tir.it rctaliatory measures were necessary. He iasti'.uoed tliorour.se that had been taken by Russia. When at the outset of the war the Germans had hanged Russian prisoners Russia had threatened that for every Russian hanged she would hang ten Germans, and j;o more had been heard of hanging. The methods adopted by the enemy of using asphyxiating teases did not give our men one chance, in a hundred, and we should resort to retaliatory measures. The Mayor said he. endorsed the view expressed by the Governor. We should' not become snakes like our enemies. We should carry on the war in a civilised way if we wanted to live in history and have the respect of the world. If we could not win by honorable means lie for one would prefer to go under. After the war was over we should deal with our enemies in a constitutional manner.

Mr Taylor said he was in favor of the motion, hut he wanted to he able to go on the platform .and toll the vountr men what they might expect. He desired to see tiie war carried on upon honorable lines, hut when an enemy -resorted to barbaric methods thev should retaliate. If they as individuals had to deal with a sandbagger they would not scruple to deal with him in a way that would protect themselves. Bv following huinantarian methods ' they might only prolong the war and do tin in selves injury'. The-Mayor said he would not go on, to the platform unless tie were in a position to say that we would fight honorably.

Mi- J. Mitchell said it might seem-un-gracious to appear to oppose the proposal. But he had not much faith in these recruiting me; tings after witnessing the meagre result of a' big meeting he had been pres.mt at in Dunedin. What whs wanted wwo nun who enlisted from a sense of duty, and not because their emotions were played upon by platform oratory. Ho- was not, however, ;;oirig to oppose the motion. The Kit. j. A. Loch ore moved an amendment to designate the meetings as patriotic, instead of rccruit-iiijg, meetings, it might b:> bstter. to approach the .subject in that ivnv than bv frontal attack.'. .' This amendment failed to find a seconder. '

The Mayor remarked that he had called the meeting after consultation with Captain Redmond and other officers, who thought .some such step was nec.:\ssa.rv.

Mr R. Milligan agreed that they should at, lea.se make the effort. If it failed or worv only partially successful they would have the satisfaction of knowing that they had dons their dutv.

Tlic Mayor'said ho felt keen, disappointment that his motion had not been received with, enthusiasm. If it was necessary to hold recruiting meetings at Home it was much, more necessary "to have them in this country, where" the pinch of the war was not so koenlv fc-lt.

On the suggestion of Mr Milligan. who said lie-could not support the latter part of it,, the mot-ion was divided, and the proposal to hold a monster demonstration on Saturday night was agreed' to without dissent. Messrs Milligan and Lee .thought itwould be- lictt.er to hold the demonstration in the ha.ll. .

. The Mayor pointed out that the Opera House could not be obtained on Saturday- night. .' The proposal to inaugurate a series of

recruiting meetings in the country was then put and cariied by five to three, many of those present Vcirainiug from, voting.

Th-s Mayor, Mr E. P. Lee, M.P.. the. Revs. Mess is Loehoro and Robinson, and Captain Redmond were appointed speakers for the Saturday night demonstration, and the matter of'singers was.left in the .hands of the Mavor and Mr Burrv.

Mr Milligan Said that as that was the first meeting o-; the Committee since the news had been received of the news of the New Zeahuulers at the "Dardanelles, it was a fitting occasion tor placing upon record their appreciation of" the work they_ had done. It caused a. glow of pride in every breast to learn that our boys had'passed through their baptism of lire in. a manner equal to the doings of regular troops. He moved a motion of appreciation of the services of the Force. a.nd of sympathy with the wounded and the relatives of" those who had fallen.

The motion, was secouded by Mr C. H. Swinard and carried unanimously. Mr W. G. Grave then moved that the Patriotic; Committee consider it the duty of every eligible citizen between the age\s of 2o and 60 years to enrol either in. the National Reserve or a Rifle Club. Tradespeople and others wore, too apathetic in the matter. The motion failed to find a .seconder, and the meeting came to a (.'lose.