MEN AND THE CALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 6

MEN AND THE CALL

MORE TRAINERS SEVERAL COMING FROM ENGLAND RECRUITING PROGRESS COMMISSIONS FOR N.C.O.'S. The Auckland "Herald" states:— "Tlie appointment of Major Sleoman, of the R-oyal Sussex Regiment, to tho position of assistant-director of military training in New Zealand will be followed at ail early, data by the arrival of other Imperial officers to reinforce the Dominion's instructional staff. Oil account of the departure to the front- of a number of the officers, connected with tho -training of our forcc-s, the Government some time ago applied to tho War Offico for tho appointment of seven or eight officers who had seen servico in the firing-line, and who, Jhough not in a fit condition to return to that duty, would still bo able to act as instructors. Advice has been received that three or four suitable men have been appointed m accordance with this scheme, and the Defence Minister hopes to h<?ar shortiv that they are on the way to the Dominion."

N.C.O.'S Promoted. Trenthani Camp reports that the-fol-lowing N.C.O.'s of tho 9th Reinforcements, having been appointed 2nd licu--1 tenants, are transferred to later reinforcements , I Sergt. A. Ponefather, B Squaftron; Sergt.-Major A. W. Bromner, A Squadroil; Sergt G. Clark Walker, A Squadron; Sergt. V. B. S. ,Scott, A Squadron; Sergt-Major V. AV. Pearse. (J. Squadron, Q.M.S. J. H. Deans, C Squadron; Sergt. L. M. Dixon, C. Squadron; Sergt. F. L. Barker, C Squadron; Sergt. G. D. Lockhead, C Squadron; Sergt. R. W. Kehbell, B Squadron; Sergt. K. I. Tait, D Squadron ; Sergt.-Major S. I. Dixon, D Squadron; Sergt. D. T. M'Kenzie,D Squadron; Sergt. C. R. Gorrinse, D Squadron; Sergt. F. W. Metcalfe, D Squadron. Trentham Camp. Tlie following temporary appointments hqve been made at Trontham:— Headquarters Staff (Camp Commandant's Office) Corporal J. H. Jolinson, to bo sergeant. D Squadron, 9th Reinforcements:— Lce.-Corpl. Proctor, to be corporal; Lce.-Corpl. Scott, to bo corporal; Lce.Corpl. Stronach, to be corporal; Pte. B. Brown, to be lance-corporal. N.Z. Field Engineers, 10th Reinforcements : —Corp], T. Williamson, to be sergeant; Sapper H. S. H.. lies, to be corporal. ' > Capt. G. H. Robertson, N.Z.M.C., has reported at Trenthani Camp for duty.

Tauherenikau Appointments. The following temporary appointments have been approved by the Camp Commandant at Tauherenikau: —Corpl. J. Davison, Army Pay Corps, to be sergeant; Corpl. J. Irving, D Company, ■LUtii, to bo sergeant; Ptes. ]). lvorv R. Forrester, W. Dwigert, D. Frew, J. Halpin, T. J. Thomson, F. W. Edwards, J. Johnstone, H. E. G. Williams, W. H. Howard, F M. Murray, C. E. H. Wilson, 11. Johnston, J. Leckio, W. Ilussell, J. S. llobertsou, E. Smith. H. b. M'Kay, G. Beckett, I<\ I<\ Burn, C. Hiskens,/. F. M'Donald, J. Mifßn, H. J. J. Pierce, D Company, 10th, to be lance-corporals; Pte. L. W. Hughes, A fequadron, lltli, to be sergeant-major: 1 te. H. I. Bailey, A Squadron, 11th, to 1)0 sergeant; Pte. J. ,C. Taylor, <1 Squadron, 11th, to be ■sergeant'; Ptes. P. IC. Buchanan, W. H Hewin, A. Linwood, A. T. P. Powell, H. H. Sheldon, J. Simpson, H. W. White, A Squadron, 11th, to be corporals; Pte. D. J. M'Gowan, A Squadron, lltli, to be orderly room and pay clerk; . Pte. E. S. llainney, B Squadron, 11th, to be ser-geant-major; Pte. E. S. Crawford, B Squadron, 11th, to be sergeant; Pte. It,. L. Badley, B Squadron, 11th, to bp corporal; Ptes. C. G. Beard, It. D. Elgar, A. C. Martis, L. L. Newlove, A. 0. Nikolaison, J._ F. Roberts, H. H. Smith, E. A. Wallace, B. Squadron, 11th, to be corporals; Ptes. R. Wood, L. B. Scott, K. D. Ifiverson, C Squadron, 11th, to be sergeants; Ptes. E. A. H. Bisley, E. G. Hart, S. Beanland, W. L. Rcdmayne, A. J. Winton, K. W. Eglinton, J. 0. Clay, L. Strong} C Squadron, 11th, to be corporals; Pte. E. Laverty, D Squadron, 11th, to be ser-geant-major; Pte. It. Love, D Squadron, 11th, to be sergeant; Ptes. J. L. Smart, D. Turner, C. Carter, A. -J. Dryden, H. Moncrieff, C. M. Stanley, P. T. Burgess, G. F. Mulligan, W. Haig, D Squadron, 11th, to be corporals; Corpl. A. J. S. Winton, 0 Squadron, 11th, to be sergeant; Corpl. i L. Strong, C Squadron 11th, to bo sergeant; Lance-Corpl. H.' D. Anderson, 2nd Res., 10th, to be sergeant; LanceCorpl. D. J. Covell, 2nd Res., 10th, to be corporal; Lance-Corpl. T. C. Purvis, 2nd Res., 10th, to be corporal; LanceCorpl. N. C. White, 2nd lies., 10th, to be corporal; Lance-Corpl. J. Freeman, 2nd Res., 10th, to be corporal; Corpl. W; P. Thompson, D Squadron, 10th, to 1)0 sergeant; Corpl. P. C. Brown, D Squadron, 10th. to be sergeant; LanceCorpl. P. Smith, D Sijuadron, 10th, to Ibe corporal; Lance-Corpl. S. M'ln tire, D Squadfon, 10th, to be corporal; Pte. •T. A. Cook, Ist Res., 10th, to be far-rier-sergeant; Pte. N. Carmichael, Ist Res.. 10th, to be shoeing smith corporal. Trouble Over Temporarily "Unfits." In Christchurch, Captain. Nortbcote states that some trouble has been caused by, men who have been declared temporarily unfit at former medfeal examinations .coming up for Te-examination without informing the officer in charge that they have already been examined. This means that these men have to go all through the whole medical examination again, whereas if thoy informed the officer m charge, they would only be examined on that particular point on which they were declared temporarily unfit at tbeir former examination. The result of the practice has , been (in some cases) that men declared temporarily unfit at former examinations have had tbai unfitness rectified, and have been re-examined, passed, and have gone away, their old medical papers meanwhile remaining on the temporar- • ily unfit file. _ This has caused a good deal of confusion.

Christmas Boom at Clsborno,

Christmas Eve saw a recruiting boom at Gisborne, for 110 fewer than fifty men handed in their names at the recruiting office. This was far in excess of the previous heaviest day's enlistment, which was twenty-six. The recruiting office was kept open,till midnight, but the greatest rush was between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Special efforts were made to draiv in young men, and numerous assistants worked hard in tho offico dealing with the cards.

West Coast Recruiting,

An exchange states:—"There has been most enthusiastic recruiting on tho West Coast, according to a recent visitor. Every district, excluding Greymouth, which has made, up in quality what it lacked in quantity, and Uunanga lias vied with each other in sending men forth to light for the Empiro. Tho Fricklcton's, of Blackball, have sent/ four soils to. the front, and aro the pride of tho district. The example of Llw Superintendent of Uio Ogimlldutod Miiw, Captain Evans, and the whole--

sale enlistment of the men of tko Mounted Rilles and Riile Clubs ho started, lias also meant universal interest. Indeed, out of some sixty members of the two corps named, which were really allied companies, about twenty-livo or thirty have gone. The men from Greymouth have been the leading young men of the place, <md they have gono to the colours with unexampled zeal." Dunedin's Dilemma. Ihe position in Otago is indicated following from an Otago paper: shortage of infantrymen with the Eleventh Reinforcements, now in camp, is still somewhere in the vicinity of 300, and the time remaining >11 whicli to make tip this grave deficiency is now very brief. The local defence authorities are prepared to send '.forward any day men wlio will offer, but to far Otago lias done nothing to ;:'ake up this deficiency, and not a man lias been •sent. All appeal.is now. boirig made to those who have signed: 011 for tho Twelfth or. any other reinforcements to come forward and be sent <111 immediately." Canterbury Short of Men. A Cliristclnirch paper says: ' Judging by the recruiting figures to date, there is a likelihood of the Canterbury quota of the Twelfth Reinforcements i'.oing into camp seriously short in infantry. The heavy shortage in tho Eleventh Reinforcements was ascribed ;n rrany quarters to the advent of the Christmas holidays, and it was confidently anticipated that once the Yuletido period is over, the deficiency would be immediately made up, but the authorities announce a shortage of four hundred men in the infantry branch of the force. Loss than a fortnight remains before the Twelfth Reinforcements go into camp—tho Cliristehurch contingent leaves on January 12, other drafts go oven earlier —and though all other branches of the service, including 'the Mounted llifles, are creating no apprehension, thoro is an unpleasant shortage ill the Infantry. Canterbury is required to provide 339 Infantry for the Twelfth Reinforcements, but, d«pito strenuous campaigning, on r.he part of the recruiting agencies, only 171 fit men have been obtained. Within the next ten or eleven days ICS men require to be secured."

There is quite a lot of talk about peoplo exploiting the soldiers, but . there is at least one Wellington business man who has gone out of his way to offer concessions to "our boys.'" Mr. A. E. M. Rowland, jeweller, 90 Manners Street, offers 15 per ccnt. special discount off all soldiers' requisites, such as wristlet watches, binoculars, etc.—Advt.