THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2672, 19 January 1916, Page 6

THE CALL FOR MEN

BETTER ANSWERS TWO LAST DRAFTS NOW PULL The DeFence Department stated yesterday that the 11th and tho 12th Reinforcements are now complete in every arm. Information gathered from various quarters leads to tho belief that recruiting has improved sinco New Year. In Wellington City 248 men were enrolled in the seven days from Monday of last woek to. Monday of this week. That rate of recruitiug is above the average for the City. Tho Latest Recruits. The men enrolled in tho City yesterday wero:— J. Urosuahan, labourer, City (Infantry). John Shannon, labourer, City (Infantry). Norman V. Ballinger, ironmonger, City (Infantry). William Pearce, linesman, Island Bay (Wireless). Thomas Cramp, butcher,' Wadestown (Infantry). Archie Hodges, photographer,' Thorndon (Infantry). James William Boyle, miner, Nelson (Mounted). Charles Columb, clerk, Island Bay (Pay Department). Bertram S. Fulton, accountant, Tinakcri Road (Artillery). Albert New, oheesemaker, Thorndon (Infantry). Samuel Hall, draughtsman, City (Wireless). More Men Co to Camp. Nineteen Infantry from /the City group were sent into camp yesterday for the purpose (so it was stated) of further reducing the shortage in the 11th Reinforcements who went into camp in December. Their names are:— J. Cook, E. Forbes, Geo. M. EatonTurner, H. Keogh, A. R. Morris, W. G. Pyle, J. Quinn, J. Smith, A. J. Sim, E. Nicholas, A. Merriman, W. H. Knox, W. W. Isett, H. Heather, W. F. Griffiths, P. M. Freyburg, J. Randall, J. R. Hunter, and L. Mason. Best Recruiting Areas. The question having been raised as t;> whether town or country has contributed best toward the New Zealand Expeditionary- Forces, a Dominion representative has made inquiries on the subject. The Defence authorities state that an accurate answer to the query would entail a gTeat deal of investigation, but thafc it seems at present that the comparison is in favour of the towns. Howover, they add that it should be remembered that a good many country men have registered in town.

COMPULSION MAY BE NECESSARY ME. MASSEY ON RECRUITING. By Telegraph—Press Association, Christchurch, January 18. "If tho voluntary system fails a form of compulsion must be adopted. Whatever difficulties there may be, the door is still opou. I would advise the young fellows physically ■ qualified to enter the Army as volunteers rather than conscripts. Tho above remark's were made by tho Prime Minister tonight. "A point," he' said, "which doos not seem to be grasped is that tho new scheme will fit the compulsory system, if it becomes necessary just about as well as it will fit the voluntary system. Personally, I hope we shall get tho number of recruits required by tlio voluntary systom, because_ the middle of the war "is not the time, if wo can possibly avoid it, to change from one system to another. Shirkers will make trouble in the training camps, as some of the soldiers have already indicated that they will not work willingly with conscripts. Whether these points are worth consideration remains to be seen. In any case, we have to think about them. Personally, lam a believer in national service. I advocated national service long before the war started, and I hope the lessons of the war will n&t be forgotten by the British people. While the European nations are armed to tha,teeth and every man is a soldier I am very strongly of opinion that tho British Empire cannot afford to rely entirely on tho voluntary system." COMPULSORY SERVICE SUPPORTED IN PAHUTUA. Pahiatua, January 18. The executive of tho A. and P. Asso* 1 ciation to-day unanimously supported the Patea resolution advocating compulsory service. • Mr. M'Earlane, a leading settler, strongly criticised the present systom, certain features of which he characterised as disgraceful. He accused the Government of being weak-kneed, and said it was time, wo stopped the Irid-glove business. '*'■ There is quite a lot of talk about people exploiting the 6oldiers, but there is at least one Wellinirton business man who has gone out of his way to offer Conor,si ens to "our boys.'" Mr. A. E. M. Rowland, jeweller, 90 Hannere Street, offers 15 per cent, special discount off all soldiers' requisites, such as wristlet watches, binoculars, .etc.—Advt.