SHORT OF MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 1 December 1915, Page 6

SHORT OF MEN

690 INFANTRY NEEDED

POSITION IN THE DOMINION

FOR ELEVENTH REINFORCEMENTS. At the end of. last week (according to the latest returns) there were registered on tho Expeditionary Force books throughout New Zealand 3754 men. Nearly half these men were on the books of the Wellington military district. The district registrations were: Auckland Military District 1062 Wellington Military District 170-1 Canterbury Military District .... 616 Otago Military District 372 Total 3754 The infantry needed for the Eleventh Reinforcements (by December 14) total 1660, and there are about 970 in hand. Wellington military district has 68S tit infantrymen registered,, but; only 427 are available for, December. Auckland has 386 lit men on its books, who wish to fight with tho infantry, and about 340 are available for December. Otago sets its lit and available infantry down at 120, and Canterbury has only 1?3 fit men for this arm of the service. Allowing the saime rate of reductions as is the case in Wellington for men not available in December, Canterbury's present store may be regarded as 78, and the table of infantry available for December will then read: — Auckland Military District 345 Wellington Military District 427 Canterbury Military District 78 Otago Military District < 120 Total 970 ' These figures prove that not only is New Zealand as a whole short of infantry, but also that every individual "lr.ilitary district is short. This fact can best be illustrated by comparison, thus: — Infantry Infantry Shortquota. available, age. Auckland M.D. ... 415 345 70 Wellington M.D. < 537 427 110 Canterbury M.D.. 413 - 78 335 Otago M.D. 295 120 175 Dominion total 1660 970 690 The position of Canterbury seems to be particularly, serious. Judging by past experience the possibilities appear 'to be that Auckland and Wellington will with difficulty just about get the men they want, and the South Island will show a heavy shortage—and there will be no North island surplus worth talking about to draw on. As 690 infantry are needed, a gross total of over 4000 enlistments is required in order to secure them. For instance: Take (say) 4140 enlistments. One-third -join kfantry—l3Bo. Only half these infantry may be fit and immediately available—69o. On the assumption that only 50 per cent, of the infantry enlisting between now and December 14 can be ssnt into camp with the Eleventh Reinforcements, every district must obtain infantrymen as follows in tho next fortnight:'— Auckland M.D. 140 Wellington M.D.v 220 Canterbury M.D. 670 Otago M.IV 350 Dominion; total 1380 _ The figures in hand sliow that there is ; little to fear regarding the other arms tor the Eleventh. Even the mounted rifles arm is likely to be well filled. The quotas and the men fit and available (roughly) in this branch are:—

o3 « S ; *rt rt ' -H ' ' w f? T2 7? P3 5 o « & N ■■ 4= > s P r. =• < 73 Auckland M.D. 98 -90 . — 8 Well'gton M.D , 126 222 96 — Canterbury M.D. 95 '' '50 — 45 OtagoM.D. ...'. 69 75 6 — Dominion total 388 437 , 102 53 The neb surplus of. available mounted rhen, therefore, 'is 49. Auckland actually lias .115 fit'mounteds, but a deduction has been made to allow for men who do not wish' to go to camp in December. Canterbury's gross enlistments of mounteds are' 74, which are reduced to 50 net for the same reason. However, the; not result of an examination of the figures is'that nearly 700 fit and I :available infantry are required before 'December 14..; SHORTAGE IS ACUTE MUST HAVE 600 MEN AT ONCE. ' "The shortage is acute," said the Defence Minister, yesterday, referring to the need for men for the December draft. "Wo want 600 infantry for the 11th Reinforcements, and we must have the men at once. Tho arrangement of the transports, makes it absolutely essential that the force shall go into camp and begin .training on tho date appointed. I have telegraphed to the Mayors of Auckland,. Christchurch, and Dunedin, telling them of this, and asking them to do what they can to make up the deficiency; also asking them to put themselves in touch with the officer commanding: their districts and to assist in every'.way they can. I am in personal touch with the Mayor of Wellington." ; "I believe," said Mr. Allen, "that tho recruiting, organisations in the different centres are a.:good deal moro effective now than, they have been. Especially is this so. in Christchurch. These organisations are now doing exceedingly good work."

CITY RECRUITING

LATEST ENLISTMENTS. The following men who enlisted in Wellington have been passed as medically fit:— 1 Herbert, Hy., Scuffoll, mechanical engineer, City (Infantry). James Hopkins, clerk, City (Mounted). . ' AVm. Hy. Binley, telegraphist, City (Artillery). ' 1 John Reynolds, teamster (Infantry). Michael Edward Rafter, clerk, City (Postal Corps). < Edward L. Good, sheep-farmer, Marlborough (Infantry).. Cecil T. V..Duck, draper's assistant, Maranui (Artillery). Arthur Richard. Barker, clerk (Quartermaster's Department). Alfred James Shilling, farmer, John- I sonville (Artillery). Michael Roche, bnshnian, • Pongaron I (Infantry). Walter V. Fisher, Civil. Servant, Baleno Bay (Infantry). Geo. Robert Ward, labourer, Petono (Infantry). ' i