Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

CRICKHOWELL.

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RURAL RECRUITING.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

RURAL RECRUITING. Comparison with the Towns. Zeppelin Raid to Wake up Breconshire! An interesting discussion—the second of its kind-took place at a meeting- of the Brecon Rural District Council on Friday afternoon, arising out of the Hon. R. C. Devereux's letter asking for voluntary can- vassers to personally interview all men of military age who are registered under the National Registration Act with a view to their joining the army. Mr Owen Price presided over a somewhat small attendance. The Chairman said he would like to know the opinion of the Council upon the question, and if they were prepared to act in the manner indicated in the letter. Canvassers were wanted, and if the councillors would act it would be in accordance with the re- quest. Mr John Jones (Llanfihangel-Nantbran) suggested that the committee which con- s' idered the question last autumn should take it in band. The matter was a very urgent one, but he did not think the mere presence of a councillor would influence any man to join the army. Mr Rees Williams seconded, stating that that was the best method they could take. Mr A. A. Mitchell said they ought to make up their minds whether they said Yes or No to the letter. He much preferred voluntary service to conscription, but he feared that unless they did their best conscription would have to come. He was prepared to do his part, and he sincerely hoped the Council would appoint somebody to go round to get a few more men. Mr Rees Williams said he seconded the proposition on the understanding that the reply was" Yes." He thought that the committee would do much better work than they as councillors could do, and he did not think that a councillor would have any in- fluence over persons in the district. Mr Mitchell said the object of the letter was to get every man available under, the voluntary system. The Rev. T. Griffiths said every man available in his parish had gone. He Z, thought the hour had gone by when they could possibly hope to use the voluntary system any further. They had only a few men remaining in his parish and they had to cultivate the land. The Government mad3 a special appeal to farmers to cultivate mors land, and the rural districts had done very well considering this. But when he cam 3 to Brecon he saw a number of able bodied men standing about the streets who ought to go to the Front. They ought to have a Zeppelin raid to drop a few bombs in Brecon- shire nothing else would do. Farmers all round were short of hands and they could not afford to spare more. Some farms had not got their wheat in and it would be necessary to get more men. The country had already been denuded and he did not think that even men of oratorical powers would be able to influence mere men. The Chairman said it was a serious matter and be believed the members of the Council fully realised the position. There was a lot to be said for the voluntary system because one volunteer was worth three or four con- scripts. They ought to do their best in order to get a few more volunteers. He felt very much the same as Mr Griffiths farmers were short of men and there were fields of corn still uncut. Breconshire had done very well in the matter of recruiting, especially the rural district. There were hundreds of young men about the streets in Swansea the other day and he thought a large number of these ought to join the Army. He questioned whether it would be possible for the Council to appoint members to take up the matter. The Rev. Garnons Williams said that the other day he said a few words against send- ing out voluntary enumerators and he was C, convinced in his mind that they ought not to el do so. He thought the voluntary system had had a fairly good trial and it was time that it should end. The one thing that we should have now was compulsion. After all it did not seem right that there should be hundreds and thousands of young me* who enjoyed themselves at home and took the jobs or those who had gone out. He did not believe for a moment that if they went round Breconshire to ask for recruits they would get a proper answer. They might have the door closed in their face as be saw had occurred in one case. He thought they ought to back up the Government to do its duty. After further discussion ten voted in favour of voluntary canvassers. The Rev. T. Griffiths said that if they went round the houses they would only be insulted. He would not like to go. The Chairman The only alternative is conscription. Mr J. F. Ricketts: Give them one more chance. I should like to have my army of all the clergymen, ministers, deacons and keepers of the country, and if they did not pray and shoot and finish off the Kaiser I would be disappointed. (Loud laughter). It was eventually decided that all the councillors should do their best in the matter.

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BRAVE BORDERERS. \.-

ILLANAFANFAWR.

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THE BRITISH NAVY.

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Breconshire's Supplementary…

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