LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS
The efforts of the recruiters to bring men to the Colours have in this district not been attended with much success, but as will be seen in our Roll of Honour column a good number have been attested under the group system during the month. Many more must, however, come in before December 11th, if Voluntaryism is to be saved.
But even the supporters of Voluntaryism will now begin to admit that some form of compulsion is necessary to repair the wastage of war and keep the Armies up to full strength.
An admirable explanation of the difference between Compulsion and Conscription was given to a disappointingly small audience by Sir Henry Jones a few nights ago.
Fresh from the enthusiastic reception he had at Brynamman the previous evening, he must have felt chilled by the meagre audience. Worse than all was the fact that his words fell on the ears chiefly of those who are over military age and are endeavouring to do their bit by joining the V. T. C.
Probably not a dozen young men were in the hall, and it is only another instance of how the slackers fight shy of any person who might be able to arouse them to a sense of their duty to their country.
But as Sir Henry put it, “John Bull has a way of gaining his ends,” and they may be assured that a way will be found to bring them in. there is still some doubt as to the position of married men who have attested and joined their group, but as will be seen by an illustrative story elsewhere there is always an appeal to the local tribunal.
This brings us to point out that the tribunals appointed by the local Councils do not evidently meet the views of the higher authorities, and there will certainly have to be a change. The selections so far do not by any means appear to be of that judicial and independent character the Government contemplated.
They emphasised strongly in their letter that the Councils should not hesitate to go outside their own members, but such appears to be the conceit of the local representatives here and elsewhere that they could not find anyone so good as, not better than, themselves for this important duty.
The war still goes on, men and munitions are wanted, but with the peculiar optimism which is the characteristic of the British race, we all hope we shall “muddle through.”
