RECRUITING BOOM IN AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING BOOM IN AUCKLAND

600 IN A. WEEK By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 11. The recruiting boom continues. On Saturday night an address was given at tho now recruiting station. During tho day llincty-four men volunteered, forty-two wero accepted, and 28 deferred, chicily owing to defective teeth. Since tho Recruiting Bureau opened, on the Saturday of the previous week, nearly six hundred men havo volunteered. Addrcssos will bo given by the Labour lenders in tho lunch hour during the coming week. NEWS AND NOTES. It is considered at headquarters at Palmerston North that tlie Wauganui, Taihapc, and Paluierstou North quota for tlie 14th Reinforcements aro the liuest lot of men who have yet gono into camp from Group 6. The examining dental officer remarked that, gonerally speaking, they had the finest, teetli of any body of men he had yet examined. The average chest measurement was 1J inches higher than any previous reinforcements, and tie average weight was a stone heavier. The ages averaged J about 27 years, and in the whole of tho lloinforconicnts only oiie man took advantage of the liberty allowed in Palmerston North to drink to excess. — "Herald." Not a single registration card under the now recruiting scheme has reached the rccruiting office in Mastertou (reports the "Are"), At a social hold at Hororata (says the "Taranaki Daily News"), among tboso present was a Maori, who has seven brothers on active service. He himself endeavoured to enlist at an early stage in the .war, but failed to pass the medical examination. He then weighed 17st. Ho determined to havo another try, and as ho was working in a brewery lio considered ho would not get dowji his woight there, so ho left and took work on a threshing mill. So far lie has got down two stone. Out of the original staff of 18 comprising the members of . tho Gisbornc railway station staff. 11 havo already enlisted. Tho sub-committee set nn at-Khan-dallah for tho purpose of dealing uith the - local roll held a meeting in the Khandallah Public Hall on Friday. Prior to dealinE with thd actual business to motions were carried unanimously, and an instruction was made that they should bo forwarded to the Premier immediately. One of the motions drew attention to the fact that the roll included the names of so nmnv married men. Tiio committee decided that it was of opinion that where married men died while an active service, tlio widows should bo provided for by the Government granting full l pensions regardless of any means they mar havo. The second motion urged bettor provision in the shape of allowances "for wives and dependents of those on active scrvice. THE SHIRKER WHAT TO DO WITH HIM. Tlie question of the men who refuse to undertake military service was briefly discussed at the Auckland conforenco of local authorities with the Minister of Defence. "What the Government may do in regard to unmarried men without dependents," who say they will not enlist, is a matter for further consideration,"' said Mr. Allen. ''My personal opinion is that they should not bo given employment by either State or local bodies, and I question whether they should have the rights of citizenship." (Applause.) "Many men aro marrying in o"der to shelter behind petticoats," the Mayor of Northcoto. Mr. G. Fraser, remarked. "It should be made public that men married during the war should be treated as single men.", "I quite agree with you," Mr. Allen replied. "The Recruiting Board has decided that, for the purposes of niiitavy service, any man who has been narked less than eight months —I think it is— »lhall not bo considered as a married man. They are not going to get out of it in that way." Rowland, Jeweller, 90 Manners Street, is the firm who are giving 15 per cent. (3s. in the £) to soldiers or their friends when purchasing .anything for them. Badges, wristlet watches, engagement rings, etc. See Rowland about it—Advt.