'To New Zealand's Manhood' recruiting board manifesto

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Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

To New Zealand's Manhood.
THE CALL TO BATTLE!
Shall the Sacrifices made be in vain?
"EVERY OUNCE INTO THE SCALE!"

MANIFESTO BY THE RECRUITING BOARD TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND.

It is now close upon eighteen months since the Government of New Zealand, with the full consent and approval of the people of the Dominion, decided to place an Expeditionary Force at the disposal of the Imperial Authorities. In the interval we have despatched over 34,000 troops to the front, we have 12,000 more in training, and we stand committed to the despatch of 2,350 men every four weeks by way of Reinforcements. [...]

Greater effort is called for.
We are all proud of the magnificent response that has already been made to the Empire's call for men to do battle in the cause of justice and liberty and for the deliverance of the oppressed. [...]

The need is for Men, More Men, and still More Men !
[...] No man worthy of the name can remain deaf to such appeals. [...] Shall we fail it now? [...] It is our duty, nay, more, our privilege, to go to her help.

The Talk of "Prussianizing."
[...]

The German Dream of Conquest.
Germany's plans of conquest, which have been unfolded before the eyes of an astonished world since the war began, included the annexation of the British Overseas Dominions, also of Egypt and probably India. We need be under no illusions as to our fate if the Central European Powers proved victorious. The German Eagle would replace the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag in these Southern Seas. The Huns would simply enter upon and despoil the country, and German autocracy, backed up by Krupp's guns, would take the place of our free institutions. Democracy as we know it would perish under Prussian rule, and it would become a crime to speak the English language. [...]
The dangers we have to guard against are very real; [...] Duty calls us to battle on behalf of the Right. Failure to defeat the damnable doctrine that "Might is Right" will land the world into the abysmal depths of savagery. Honour demands that we should make sacrifices for the good of our fellow-men, for the protection of our women and children, and for the sanctity of our home life.

We must Fight on.
For Britain's sake we have sent our sons, our brothers, and our kinsmen to the war; [...] and for the safety and happiness of our womenfolk and children, we must continue to reinforce them and to strengthen their hands in every possible way. [...]

The Call is still for Volunteers.
Many who read this appeal should enlist right away. Duty reminds them of their obligations; from the trenches their comrades call to them; the cry of "To the front" rings out more and more insistently.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT ?
Men of New Zealand! We must keep the Germans out of "Old England" and out of New Zealand and every other British possession.
What is wanted now is the spirit of the Lancashire man that was related recently. [...] "I've coom to take Andy's place. When word came about thy brother, thy mother bade me coom to thee, and I'd be ashamed man if I failed to do summat to keep the Bosches out of old England; and we've got to do it, lad, for the sake of thy mother and thy sisters."
"We shall save Civilization."
Keeping the Bosches out of English territory we shall save civilization, we shall save the Empire, and shall be in a better position to efficiently assist our gallant Allies and redeem Belgium, Poland, and Serbia. It is our privilege to act to-day. [...] Every man able to bear arms is needed at the front. You know if you come within that category. If you do, ENLIST AT ONCE! And, like a certain soldier in Kitchener's Army, you will be able to say, "I was not among the first to go, but I went, thank God, I went."

W. F. MASSEY, Chairman.
J. G. WARD,
J. ALLEN,   } Members of Board.

By Authority: JOHN MACKAY, Government Printer, Wellington.-1916.
10,000/2/16- 2926]

Excerpted: the full sheet runs to over 1,000 words, so paragraphs are abridged, marked [...], to fit the field limit. The omitted paragraphs (on 'Prussianizing', a quoted Berlin newspaper, and the closing appeal) follow the same lines. Handwritten '522' and pencil catalogue marks not transcribed.