ABSTRACT
To prevent economic dislocation, a list of industries considered essential was set out to include coal mining, farming, shearing, freezing works, shipping and leather and boot factories. In contrast, the Labour Party's representative on the committee cautioned that moving to compulsory service without first proving its necessity would split the cabinet and alienate the working classes. A War Policy Committee was then formed to consider future recruitment. Testimony before this body revealed a cabinet divided between supporters of conscription, mostly conservative, and opponents, mostly Liberal. John Salmond was certainly correct to argue that they amounted to a 'practical compulsion' of the boards, by applying considerable pressure to accept appeals and creating an impression that the appellant deserved exemption before any testimony had been heard. Grace period also saw the first fears New Zealand might struggle to meet its obligations, an impression strengthened when Allen erroneously remarked that sufficient recruits.
