NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2478, 3 June 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

When wc suggested yesterday that Now Zealand's effort should be to bring the total of the men dispatched for scrvicft abroad to fifty thousand at the earliest possible date we fully realised that very considerable obstacles would have to bo overcome. Mr. Au.Mi in <(■ tip ii-mii-. injs Qieowbeors ic this ibsua. refers to

some of these obstacles. It is obvious, however, that we shall only have to continue the present rate of reinforcement sufficiently long ultimately to bring the figure to fifty thousand, 'flic question is whether it is desirable anc! possible to accelerate- the rate at which the men shall go forward. The feeling is widespread that our effort in the war should at least equal, in proportion to our population, that of the Motherland. _\\ith Britain talking ol' conscription and with the long fight in the Dardanelles dragging on, and the lists of wounded I and slain reaching us daily, there is throughout the Dominion an increasing desire for service.. The country has been deeply stirred during the past month, and it is anxious that no effort shall be spared to ensure that New Zealand shall gire of its best, and that there shall bo no regrets hereafter for that little more wo might have done and failed to do. • The Government lis fully sensible of this feeling, _ which is daily finding fresh manifestation Everywhere the desire is that if we err it shall be well on the side of doing too much. Mit. Allen, from his fuller knowledge and for reasons which lie cannot disclose, may find the precise suggestions we put forward to be impracticable. This, howover, does not mean that w© should rest content with what we are doing. The difficulties which at present exist in the way of training, equipment, and transport of an increased body of troops may be overcome. Mr. Allen has proved himself to be the most capable Minister of Defence the Dominion has ever had, and it is particularly fortunate that the country should have had the benefit of his services in the years 'immediately preceding and during the present great conflict. He has done so much and overcome so many difficulties in connection with the organisation and dispatch of our troops that he must not blamo us if we look to him to rise superior even to ths formidable obstacles which no doubt confront him in the direction indicated in his interview.