Mr D. Stewart (Mayor of Balclutha) brought the matter forward at the annual meeting of shareholders in the South Otago Freezing Company.
He said that the Balclutha Patriotic Association had discussed the question, and was in favour of compulsory service being applied.
The voluntary system had failed, and in order speedily to terminate the war the speaker thought compulsion should be applied.
It was the only effective way left of getting sufficient men quickly. He did not think the majority of men who would be called on to serve would be averse to fighting.
They were, for reasons of their own, doubtful about enlisting now, but once compulsion was applied they would gladly accept their fate, and would, he was sure, prove as good soldiers as those who had gone voluntarily:- (Applause.)
He moved- ''That this meeting of farmers and others recommends the Government to enforce compulsory military training in New Zealand as soon as possible.''
The motion was seconded by Mr James Begg, who said he held the same opinion as the mover, and would not care to call men eligible for service who did not voluntarily offer cowards.
No one knew what were the reasons that deterred them from enlisting, but when conscription meant the speedier termination of the war he thought there should be no hesitation about applying compulsion.
A discussion followed, Messrs Joseph Mosley and J. C. Anderson holding that the Government should not ''hedge behind a meeting like this'' when such an important question was concerned.
The latter was in favour of compulsion, but he thought the Government should come out openly and made provision last session for compulsion.
Mr Joseph Mosley said that if conscription was to apply throughout the whole of the British Empire he would support the motion, but he would not support a proposal for a small country like New Zealand to make a lead.
After further discussion the motion was carried with only one dissentient, this being Mr Joseph Mosley, who voted against it for the reason stated above.
At the Clutha County Council meeting, Mr James Begg moved- ''That this council urges the Government to adopt conscription as soon as the voluntary system fails to provide the necessary number of men.''
This was seconded by Mr C. F. Overton, and carried without discussion.
The Balclutha Borough Council, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr A. F. Duthie, passed a resolution similar to that carried at the meeting of shareholders in the freezing company.
Mr G. Benstead, principal of the special school at Otekaike, has been deputed by the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) to undertake, with a view to ascertaining their eligibility for admission to the school, an examination of all backward or feeble-minded children in the dominion.
Mr Benstead will commence his tour of inspection in the Auckland district (says the Oamaru Mail).
He will probably examine some 400 or 500 cases now awaiting admission.
Many of these will not be eligible for treatment at the school; probably not more than 200 will be eligible, and the current additions to the institution will accommodate that number.- ODT, 1.11.1915.
