RECRUITING PAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2316, 25 November 1914, Page 7

RECRUITING PAY

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. (By Seiegrapn—Prefis Association) Dunetlin, November 24. A deputation waited _on the Right Hon. W. F. Massey thia morning asking for further facilities for recruiting pay from the day of acceptance and for more adequate pensions for dependents. It was pointed out that there was no central office c for reorwting in Dunedin ; that men had been sent from place to place, and finally returned to their work without being enlisted. It was- also stated that .men had been rejected on medioal tests here and had gone north and passed there. The deputation urged that the' Government - should have daily a prominent advertisement in the Pressj' and that reoruiting officii should be open day and 1 evening. , Mr. Massey said at .present there was no difficulty in recruiting; a far larger number were offering than were required. Preference had to be given Territorials. The Government realised nevertheless that the door .would have to bo opened wider in future. Reinforcements were now ready in Wellington to go at the middle of next month, and 300 more were to go two months later. Nobody ■knew how many more would be required, because there were indications that the Imperial Government would ask the Dominions to assist in putting into tho' field in the European Bpring a force sufficient to bring the war to an end. Then there would be further opportunities. They must keep sufficient men here to run the railways and post and telegraphs. These trained men could not be interfered with. He believed that pensions so far as concerned the rank and file and non-coma, were not adequate, and he would look into the matter,. and! if he found that to be so,'more would be done. The Government and Parliament were both of tho.b .way of thinking.