THE RECRUITING QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2335, 17 December 1914, Page 9

THE RECRUITING QUESTION.

Sir, —One day we are told the' Defence Department need more recruits for the reinforcements, and the next that there are more than enough. Can you tell me what is the real position? I saw in a Dunedin paper the other day that 700 men were wanted from Otago and that there was a shortage-of 200 men or so, but that'the deficit number was made up by the excess from other districts. I have not seen it stated what quota is roquired from Wellington or what number has been recruited. If more men are required would it not bo advisable for the Defeuce authorities to take the public more into their confidence?

Personally, I went up to the recruiting office to give in niy. name tha other day. I asked when I would be .wanted if accepted, and was told that I would bo required to come up for medical examination that night, .and if accepted to go into camp the next morning. Huch notice was altogether too short to enable me to iix up my private affairs, bo I said I would be clear after the New Year. I was told that it would suit better if I put in for the next lot after that now in camp, and 1 was accordingly advised to oomo back and apply later on and not to give my name in at present.

On what was to mo a very important point, I s was unable to gut any definite information—that is, what time I would Lave to fix up my affairs after 1 was definitely accepted, and before, I was required to go into camp. The recruiting officer very willingly gave me all the information he could, but bo far ae, I could gather it was more or lese a caeo of holding oneself in readiness to go at very short notice if called Upon. This would mean that I should either have to sell up all my belongings without definitely knowing whether I would be required ui the end or not, or else' practically abandon everything lit, say, twenty-four hours' notice. Neither, of these alternatives is at all satisfactory. There must be hundreds of others in. the same position'as myself, and now that there is apparently plenty of time available, why cannot wo have a chance of fixing things i>p in a reasonable way?.

Lastly, is there not something defective about the Department's methods of keeping track of tue men who do volunteer?, Ii mj own case, for instance, my'name and address wore not taken, and the Department has no method of getting into touch with me again. This does not look like a shortage of recruits. A friend of mine about six weeks ago sent in a written application to the officer specified in the newspapers, and has since received no acknowledgment of it in any shape or form. Another friend tells me that he knows of young fellows who put in for the Main Force, were called up beforo the doctor, and passed the medical examination, and have / heard nothing whatever since.

Suck methods as these are sot exactly calculated to stimulate , ' recruiting. A plain and definite statement of the facts and arrangements for a more businesslike handling of the men'who are read; to volunteer would probably do nway .with the need—if there is a need Hot the recruiting meetings now being held in various parte of the country.— I am, etc.. INQUIRER. [The above letter was referred to Colonel Robin, Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Force*, who made the following statement:—"lf the writer of the letter will give. his nama and the office he inquired at, we will see why he could not get the information lie wanted, and that will help the Defence Department. As for the method of obtaining recruits, all the military officers in the districts, iii'eas, and subureas throughout New Zealand receive applications, either in person or by writing.' It is the duty of those officers to forward all information; to keen lists of all applicants, and as the quota is called from the District Commander, to forward the recruits to the camp. If in any group or area, through a shortage of population or other reasons, the numbers are not reached, a call is then made on areas or group with a surplus, to send forward' the next names staiußng on the lists. The district quotas are roughly taken as a fourth of the force required. This, in a way, may be misleading, as, for instance, some districts might not have the population. Such centres, if short, aro made up from places with an overplus. So far thoro has been no difficulty in getting the numbers required. As to time for fixing up one's affairs —there is always ample time for this, but each case has to be considered according to tho time of application. Even after the recruit goes into camp ho has ample opportunity for fixing up his affairs, for all allotments-and details regarding dependents are made there, and when occasion necessitates it leave for a reasonable time, two or three days, can bo secured."]