OFFERS OF SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2437, 16 April 1915, Page 3

OFFERS OF SERVICE.

THE MEN NOW AVAILABLE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND The Minister of Defence was supplied yesterday with details of the number® of nieu who have registered in the different centres for service abroad.- The total number of men who have registered is 2458, of whom 652 are Territorials 1 and 1806 civilians. The totals for the four districts are: Auckland 911, 'Wellington 755, Canterbury 410, and Otago 382. The men, who have been examined and found medically fit, and who are available for service, number 1933, of whom 559 are Territorials and 1374 civilians. The totals for the four districts are: Auckland 627, Wellington 726, Canterbury 257, Otago 329. Although there are big differences in these totals, the numbers of Territorials offering does, not vary considerably in the different districts. Following are tlie numbers of Territorials available: —Auckland 125, Wellington 138. Canterbury 124, and Otago 172. • The authorities state that the Wellington total includes men from other districts who have come here to be registered and examined. ' |

The Minister stated yesterday that he regarded these figures as perfectly satisfactory. ''This shows," he said, "what 'we "have done since the new scheme of registration was established. I. should like to call attention to this fact —that whereas of the number reg : istered 26.5 per cent, were Territorials; of the total number medically fit and available 29 per cent, were Territorials." Apparently the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth has made public the numbers of men Australia is sending.to the front. When asked whether he would make a like statement regarding the New Zealand force, Mr. Allen declined, saying that the Imperial authorities had not released him of his obligation to maintain absolute' secrecy concerning the number of troops or the dates of their dispatch. It is a fact, however, that ' the Australian figures, big as they are, df> not'eompare favourably with those for New Zealand, taking into account the relative population of the two countries.