RECRUITING BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2695, 15 February 1916, Page 7

RECRUITING BOARD

local bodies at work THE ARM-BADGES

, I" 1 connection with tho appeal to •jte local bodies to assist the Uecruitiuu Heard in the now scheme to stimulate enlistment, rolls are being issued containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all the men of military ago ui each district. All the rolls for the South Island boroughs, with the exception of Christclnirch and Westport, have now been posted. The rolls for the whole of tlie counties in the South Island have also been issued, with the following exoeptions:—Akaroa, Ellesroere, Inangahua, and Takaka. As regards the town districts in 1 tho South Island, these havo all been supplied with rolls. It is 'expected that tho issue of the North Islaud rolls will begin to-day, and that tlie rolls for the wholo Dominion will have been forwarded from Wellington hp tho end ol' the week. / Further information regarding the issue of distinctive arm-badges was made public yesterday., . Tile badges will be issued to men who (a) have been enlisted or enrolled for active eorvice in the present war, but have not ,vot been called up; or (b) who have been hon.oura.bly discharged from tlie Ex-, peditionary Forces, or havo been in an y manner engaged in active service during the present war, and have been discharged therefrom; or who havo offered themselves for/active service in the present war, but have been rejected as unable to fulfil the requirements of the Defence Department; or (d) who are engaged in an exempted industry. With the exception of those in class (b) ■—men who have been honourably discharged—application must bo made for 'he badges to the group officers in the Respective areas with, which tho men bare been in communication. Hie discharged men must apply to the Easo Records Office in Brandon Street, Wellington. It would be a matter, of extreme difficulty to search ' tho records to And out who are entitled to wear the badges. As 6oon, however, as a man applies, there will be no trouble ill ascertaining hie particulars from tho Group Office records, l'rom now \>nwards, of course, eyery man who enlists or is rejected, or discharged or exempted will get his distinctive badge, with the card for which provision was also made in tho regulations.

interesting in connection with the issue of the arm badges to recall the following letter which was sent hy Hib Majesty the King to Lord Derby': Buckingham Palace, December 28. My dear Derby, — Now tliat the work in connection with the King's appeal for recruits is over, Hjs Majesty hopes that cvory man who is entitled to ivc.ir an armlet will do so, as proof to his fellowcountrymen of his response to tliat call Vours very truly (signed), Stamfordham,

the board and compulsion

'THE GBAVTTy_OF THE PRESENT

POSITION."

The Recruiting Board—consisting of the I rime Minister (the Right Hon. W ll .Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward), and ji? T m , lstor of i Def e n «> (the Hon. J. Alton)—has forwarded the following let<it? .Master'ton County Council:— "Ave have received the letter written by your county clerk on February 9, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by the Masterton County Council to the effect that it would bo impossible for any of its members to assist in' the recruiting movement as set forth in the letter from the Recruiting Board, and that' it is tils duty of t-lie Government to ensure the' enrolment of sufficient reinforcements during the present European jcrisis by compulsion, should the voluntary system not prove successful. . "We have also received advice of a similar resolution having been passed l by tho AVaipa County Council. "It is Kith the greatest concern tbat the Recruiting Board )earns that there ftre in the Dominion of New Zealand bodies,of public men who aro apparently 60 unable to realise the gravity of the present position and to appreciate the terrible menace now threatening us, in common with the rest of the Empire of which we form a small' but intensely loyal part, as to dismiss in this oif-hauii manner an appeal which is the outcome of the serious and considered judgment of the Recruiting Board, acting for and on behalf of the National Government.

"Tho board is bound to express to you its strong conviction that it is the sacred duty of every loyal public man to oome fonvard'in this time of national stress and render the fullest service in his power to make this scheme, which is the result of much anxious caro and thought, a complete and lasting success. "The board, speaking tfit'i the complete knowledge of all the issues involved which it alone can possess, wishes to emphasise in the strongest possible, way its opinion that no suggestion of compulsion should be considered until the voluntary system of enlistment lias been' thoroughly tteted and proved tcf be inadequate to secure the How of men accessary to fulfil our honourable obligations in this world struggle for the maintenance of liberty and justice. The hoard is now providing the ways and means by which-, the voluntary system can bo thoroughly and exhaustively tested, and it feels that it is entitled to, and will "undoubtedly receive, the active and sympathetic help and 00-operation of every loyal and patriotic public- man and citizen of this Dominion. "With respect to the latter part of your council's resolution, the Recruiting Board would like to know how the voluntary system can possibly be successful if other public bodies and other public men follow a load so inimical to success as that set by the Masterton and Waipa County Councils?"