TO MAINTAIN OUR STRENGTH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2650, 22 December 1915, Page 6

TO MAINTAIN OUR STRENGTH

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DRAFTS THE NEW RECRUITING SCHEME ' DETAILS APPROVED Cabinet yesterday carefully considered the details of the new scheme of recruiting to maintain tho Dominion's pledged regular contributions to tho Empire's fighting forces in order to maintain at full 6trength our Expeditionary Forces in die services of Britain and the Allied Powers. Great interest has been cvinced in this new scheme, of which, it may be incidentally mentioned, His Excellency the Governor has consented to act as patron, and Ministers in Cabinet yesterday gavo dieir final approval. Tile new arrangement will como into force as soon as tho necessary machinery can be got into working order, and the work of organisation and control is placed in tlie hands of tho Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massoy), the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen), and the Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward).' . 1 ' " The Draft Scheme. Tho following comprise the details of the draft scheme as approved by Cabinet:^

1. There shall be one principal recruiting centre in. each provincial district,, and also in every county, city, and borough throughout tlie Dominion, with a conveniently-situated recruiting olfice.

2. The recruiting for each district, county, or borough shall be controlled by a central council composed of members of the representative local bodies and any other representative men who are willing to assist. 3. Each county shall be subdivided into comparatively small areas. For instance, areas approximating to school committee districts, and all members of local bodies shall be asked t-o assist in the recruiting campaign. 4. The metliod of recruiting shall bo by moral suasion, i.e., by personal interviews between members of the organisation and possible recruits, though public meetings may be necessary iu the'larger centres.

5. The Parliamentary representatives for each'district shall be asked to' assist —this to apply to members of both branches of the Legislature. 6. The newspapers shall be asked to encourage the movement, especially by reports of recruiting meetings and tho progress of tho movement in .the different districts.

.7. For the purpose of this scheme, it is proposed to have alphabetical lists of all mon between 19 and 44 years of age, showing whether married or unmarried.

8. The quota for each month will be allotted up to the end of 1916, and every endeavour must be made to secure a sufficient number of recruits for ; each month's requirements.

9; The organisation to secure the number of recruits required will bo under the control of a board consisting of the Prime Minister, tlio Finance Minister, and tlie Defence Minister. 10. The scheme of organisation will be so arranged as to permit of a .personal appeal to each man of military age on the alphabetical list, and a gfiieral appeal to the public by speeches, band rniisic. etc.

11. Existing recruiting organisation shall, where possibl," l , he maintained, and be co-ordinated with tlio general organisation .of cotinfv councils, borough councils, road boards, town Tioards. school committees, unions, and nliy, other form of organisation that may be deemed advisable, the, idea being that all classes shall assist in the personal appeal.

12. The organisation will advise about men required for industries,' and for this purpose the hoard will require the assistance-of the Departments of Lnhnur, Munitions, Agriculture. Mines, Railways, etc., so tliat exemptions from militarv service may ho granted whore essential for tlie support of the indus-

trv.' 13. Alpliaboticil rolls should he available for t.hn local recruiting committees. Not«.—The date when a man enlists, and when he proceeds to camp, and the results of the. personal appeal should he ncted on the roll, and the recruiting should add to tho roll names of all mon not already on it. The. roll shall not ho'open for public inspection, hut only to the ..'committee.