EQUIPPING THE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2224, 10 August 1914, Page 6

EQUIPPING THE FORCE

t an' empire defence fund. ' SCHEME IN DETAIL.,The Minister of Defence- (tho Hon, J. Allen) lias inaugurated an Empire Do- • fence' Fund, wherewith'- to equip the expeditionary force, so that tho rifts of patriotic citizens will'bo put to the most effective use, and duplication and waste will-be avoided.'. In explaining details of tlio,.scheme to a Dominion reporter, the Hon. J: Allen said: V-,. ' "I have ..organised the. fund on what I. believe to bo-a sound basis. A circular 'will be issued, signed by. me and approved by tho- Defence Department,, so that it is authoritative and. provides a' guarantee that. the gifts will, take, the uiost effective and useful shapes: ■'-''In this time of Empire-need, the. Government . calls upon tho people of the ■country to make what sacrifices they can of inonoy and .effort to provide for an expeditionary force to be sent wherever the ■ Empire calls. It is, imperative to avoid waste, and in'the interest of. economical management that the money- subscriptions and donations of work should be properly. organised.. ' The Organisation, "The Government.will establish an Empire Defence Fund," said' Mr. Allen. "Into this fund shall bo paid all money contributions from local authorities, companies, or individuals, whether for purchase of. horses or other material required for tho expeditionary force. I have no doubt that the' various banks throughout the Dominion will receive the,money contributions and remit them free of exchange to tlio public account. Some have already promised to' do so; If the con--1 tributor specified the object for which he mate his donation, then the amount . will be. credited to a special account, e.g., purchase of horses or purchase of material, or purchase of personal equipment for the men (blankets,- uniforms, boots, etc.). If no such indictaion is given, the Paymaster-General will either credit tho contribution to a general nccount • or to one of the above-mentioned accounts, as J. he thinks fit. _ The Paymaster-General will ; open a. - special account or accounts . as ' indicated above, .which will from timo [ to time be supplemented by payments from the Consolidated Fund. AH Mayors, [ chairmen of county councils and town ; boards, are asked to take action at onco ' to call, meetings of citizens and to orEnniso for the collection of money or gifts. . ■ v Comforts for the Men. Her. Excellency the Countess of Liver--9 pc-ol is. organising the women of the country in order that they, may nrovide

articles required by the members of the Expeditionary 'Force, suchi as shirts, holdalls, housewifes, socks,,etc. Particulars and instructions as to the forwarding of gifts of horses and otherequipment are given in' the following schedules:— ' .. • ; '. About Horses. All horses donated must be passed by ono of the undermentioned officers, who are appointed by Colonel Rentes, Director of .-'Remounts, and willb'e conveyed free by rail to the specified place of delivery., Horses will be delivered, to:—-Mr. Stone, Inspector of Stock, Whangara; Major Lyons, M.E.C.V.S., Auckland; Mr. Brown, Inspector of Stock, Auckland; Mr. Alexander, Inspector of Stock, Hamilton; Mr. Huddlestone, ■• Inspector of Stock, Te Kuiti; Mr.' Broom, M.R.C.V.S., Gisborne; Mr. Barnes, M.R.C.V;S., Hastings; Mr. Graham, Inspector of Stock, Hastings; Mr. BTodie, M.R.C.V.S., Hastings; Mr. Hubbard, Inspector of Stock, Masterton; Mr. Burton, M.R.C.V.S., Masterton; Mr. Sutton, Inspector of Stock, New Plymouth; Mr. Beer'e, Inspector of • Stock, Stratford; Mr. Ford, Inspector of, Stock, Hawera,* Mr. Meade, M.R.C.V.S., Hawera or New Plymouth; Mr. D. Munro, Inspector of Stock, Wanganui; Captain Edgar, M.R.C.V.S., Wanganui; Mr. Fleming, Inspector of' Stock, Palmerston North; Captain Primmer, M.R.G.V.S., • Palmerston North; Mr. Howard, M.R.C.V.S., Departwent of Agriculture, Wellington; . Mr. Empson, Inspector, of Stock, Nelson; Mr. Brittain, Inspeoto'r of Stock, Blenheim; Mr. Goodall, Inspector r of Stock, Kaikoura; Mr. J. Nunro.J'rispector of Stock, Amberloy; Mr. F.' MTSenzie, Inspector of Stock, Christchurch'; Captain Stafford, M.R.C.V.S., Department ' of Agriculture, Christchurch; Captain Elphick, M.R.C.V.S., Department of Agriculture, Christchurch; Mr. EeviHe, Inspector of Stock,, Timaru; .Mr.' Blair, Inspector of Stock, Oamaru; Major -Snowball, M.R.C.V.S., Dunedin; ■, Captain Blair, M.R.C.V.S., Dunedin; Mr: Gossaae, Inspector of, Stock, Mosgiel; Mr. Gilmour, Inspector of, Stock, Balelutha; Mr. Hill, Inspector' of Stock, Gore; Mr. Martin, M.R.C.Y.S., Goro;.Mr. Wright, Inspector of Stock, Invercargill; or to tho remount officers of the Defence Department at the following centres:—Auckland, Hamilton, Hawera, Hastings, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin,, Invercargill. Saddlery, All 6addlery is to be of a large, strong type, and must be in thoroughly good order in every way. Tho following articles are required under this heading:—Saddles, bridles, leather head-stalls, head ropes, horse-covers. , , ' In case of donbt' donors are asked to communicate with Colonel Reakes, Director of Remounts, Wellington. •■■■"•■' ,; Forage, .All forage must necessarily bo of firstclass quality,.and delivered at the nearest railway station, marked "Expeditionary equipment," and consigned at the Government's expense to the remount officers at. tho nearest of the following centres:— Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin. Supplies of the following will bo accepted:—Bran, oats, compressed hay, oaten chaff, linseed,, and tarrots. ' Food. ~■' Supplies of food as'under will be received by tho officer commanding the dis-. tricts at Auckland, : Christchurch,; Dunedin, and by Captain Reid, Headquarters Staff, Wellington. The following will be received:—Frozen meat, tinned meats, cheese, coffee, tea, sugar, .salt, pepper, butter, potatoes, onions, jams, lime juice, candles condensed milk oatmeal, baking powder, bovril, or meat extract. ' The following gifts of extra comforts for tho mon on tho voyage may be handed in or consigned to the nearest Defence office, where instructions have been'given as to forwarding tobacco, pipes, papers, books, games, 'cards, tooth-brushes, shaving outfits, matches, tinned fruits, cakes, tins of biscuits, chocolates, knives, and tin-openers. Motors and Cycles. The following articles are required in connection with the forcesEleven motor-oars (five-seaters). ■ Nineteen motor cycles. Ono hundred and soventy-thTe© bicycles. Gifts of these should 'be advised to Captain Reid, Headquarters Staff, Wellington, who will make the necessary arrangements regarding forwarding.' Other Articles. Other articles which it is suggested should be donated ara:—Cholera belts, braces, canvas shoes, comforter caps, underclothing; hold-alls (with knife, fork, and spoon), hoot laces, "housewifes" (containing thread, needles, buttons, etc.), soap, socks, shirts, towels, cardigan waistcoats, hair brushes, and combs. . It is'suggested that the women of the country, who are being organised by the Countess of Liverpool, should make* those gifts.' The articles may be sent to the officors commanding the districts at Aucfc land, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin, and to Captain Reid, Head quarters Staff,: Wellington, • and they ml be remitted free of cost by post or rail i; marked "Liverpool Fund," .'•'•■■"' PAY ON ACTIVE SERVICE. STATEMENT BY HON; J AS. ALLEN Mr. .E. H., Clark (Chalmers) drew th attention of the Defence Minister to th fact that many of the men of the Garrisoi Artillery in his district earned ordinaril; 9s'. a day, and now when they were, serv ing at the forts they received'only is a day. However, he wished ,specially 'b ask the .Minister whether in the even of any member of- the Expeditionar; Force being killed in the field their de pendents would. be provided for by th Government. ' ' . ' ' . Mr..A. M. Myers said he had Qoinmunications from several nurses an xious to go with the Expeditionary Fora in the e% r ent of any nurses being sent He'would be glad to know whether th Government intended - to send any nurse abroad. '■.;'" Tho Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence said that a certain number of nurse would bo sent abroad, but they might pro bably:have to leave in a. comparatively short time. Ho did, not know whether i' was tho. intention to send nurses later on but those nurseis who wished to go shoule send in their applications as soon as pos sible. With regard to the .question' o tho member for Chalmers, the Defenci Act made provision- for injuries sustainei in the field or for death. He'thought hi could give an assurance on behalf of tin Government .that if men lost their iives ii tho service of tho country, the countr; would look after their widows and child ren.; With regard to the pay of Terri torials, he did not ,see how, the Govern ment could provide more pay for Terri torials serving within New Zesiand thai thut already provided for in the Defeuo Act, but ho had; noted that although th Territorials had volunteered for servici with the Expeditionary Force at this rate it was still a lower rate of pay thau.wai given to the New Zealandevs serving ii the South African war. He had considered the matter, and he hoped to be able ti a recommendation upon it t< Cabinet at its next meeting. CABINET'S DECISION. At the Cabinet meeting which succeed ed. Saturday evening's sitting of'Parlia ment it was deoidbd that the Governinen shall pay tho New Zealand men who ar to serve tho Empire abroad the 'sam rote of pay as was given to the con tingents in South Africa. 'The rates are as follow:—Lieutenant Colonel, 30s. per day; majors, 255.; car tains, 205.; lieutenants,' 155.;. sergeant majors, Bs.; sergeants, 75.; corporals, Bs. privates, ss. In addition to these rates of pay th I officers who served, in Afiioa received.

field allofwanoo of 3s. a day, and a colonial allowance of 3s. a day. RIFLE CLUB RESERVE. At Buckle Street Drill Hall on Saturday night tho local, rifle clubs, pursuant to oruors, mustered in strong force, _ under President H. Marshall, of tho Karori Club, who has been placed in command by General Sir Alexander Godley. One hundred and eighty men of all ranks paraded, including many whose names are very well known in the riflo shooting world of Now Zealand. •AH of tnem are first-class shots,. most, of them drillod men, and a number who had seen service in . South Africa and elsewhere. Mr., Marshall oxplained that many men of the.sth Regiment had tolunteered for service abroad. This, of course, in the meantime, left tho regiment short of its full strength. It Was considered that tho local clubs should be organised into one complete reserve company, on tho same lines as tho existing companies of the sth Regiment. It was not sufficient that the rifle club meA should be as they undoubtedly , were, willing to help, they must bo ablo to do so. This company should bo proud to be attached to the sth Regiment, one whicli. had proved itself second to none. In their turn, he hoped this company would be a source of pnde, and in that he felt he Vould have the hearty co-operation. of all. By forming this company as a. complete fighting unit, the full'-, strength of tlie local, rifle clubs will be efficient, and "ready, for . instant < use when ordered. ' The organisation of the company was then • proceeded with, the. fuill establishment requiring one mojoT,.one captain, four lieutenants, each, in charge of a section, one sergeant-major,- one \quarter-master-sergeant, four sergeants, and sixteen corporals. • , A feature of the parade was the cheerful manner in which ex-officers, and non-com-missioned officers took their places in me ranks, there being enough to officer the company twice over.: . The company elected Captam J. Ross as second in command. It was then divided into four platoons on a residential basis, each platoon electing its own commander as lieutenant. The various non-commis-sioned officers were then appointed, each platoon being divided into four sections, umder a wrporal.- - The whole organisation was completed in an hour and a half, and the companv will parade for drill. to-night at 7.30. ■ During the evening liis Worship the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, paid the clubs a visit and congratulated them on what they were doing. For those men who have no rifles it has been decided to apply ior some on loan. The provisional appointments for the company are as follow:— Major Marshall, Captain Ross; Lieutenants Halliday, Graham, Spencer, Woods, Serjeant-Major. .Horner, Quarter-Master Cowan, Sergeants Love, Brown, Tmiiey, M'llvride,- Feasy, Combear, Mittholl, Kirk, . Warburton, Clark, Burns, M Bain, Grimstone, Jenkins, Barnes, Pitt. It is expected -that -next week the company will be up to ■o. ■ strength of 250, , At a largely attended meeting of representatives of all' branches of the Railway Service held vestarday, ■it was unanimously decided to proceed urgently with the collection-of' subscriptions from all railway men ; towards the equipment of the railwav contingent of. the Expeditionary Force. The Department has decided to grant half-pay to all volunteers for six months, in addition to any pay allowed by the Defence Department, and also to keep their positions open. It was stated that 70 per cent.,of tho contingent would be comprised o.f 6econd division men. • ' ' - FROM LORD KITCHENER. , MESSAGE TO TEE PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister has ; received the following telegram from the High Commissioner, dated .-London,- August 8: — "At the invitation of lord Kitchener, I saw him this morning at the War Office. Ho said: 'I desire you to tender my sincere thanks and appreciation to ; the Government and' people of New Zealand for their .prompt, generous, ', and valuable offer of material help.' Lord Kitchener especially values the.. . type of men New Zealand can send. He knows tkeir. valour and devotion. He ~ will see that all ca.ro will be taken of . New brave, sons, . and he;. ; feels that thoy will show- a oontinuonce of same resource,-and courage in the field which they displayed in': South Africa. Then tho Dominion's honour would be 6afe in. their hands. He wished' me to send that message to the Government and people of New Zealand."