STEADY INFLOW OF RECRUITS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2814, 4 July 1916, Page 4

STEADY INFLOW OF RECRUITS

The military authorities have good reason for satisfaction with the supply of men coming forward for the various reinforcements. The manner in which the young manhood of New Zealand is now responding to tho call must bo gratifying to the whole community. Tho present position is decidedly good.' At the end of last week 149 infantrymen in cxccss of actual requirement's went into camp for the Eighteenth Reinforcements. This reveals a ; healthy stato of affairs, and the soundness of the recruiting outlook becomes still more apparent when it is borne in mind that all tho districts arc providing their full quotas. Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago each sent a surplus for the Eighteenth < Reinforcements. There was a small shortage in Auckland's contribution, but this will bo made up to-day. One of the en : couraging aspects of tho recent speeding-up in the rate of enlistment is the finci recovery shown in tho Canterbury' and Otago districts, where there, had previously been a serious slowing down. At the beginning of the year tho lull in Canterbury was very marked; the response to urgent appeals in various forms and from many quarters was most disappointing. Sinco then the whole situation has been put upon a fairer and firmer basis by the decision of the Government to placo the compelling hand of tho State, if necessary, upon those who for a variety of causes—some of them quite reasonable—were holding back. This step emphasised tho duty of tho State ■ to make adequate provision for tho dependants of our soldiers. Parliament has very properly paid a good deal of attention to this matter during the present session. In insisting upon the fulfilment of our imperative obligations to the men at tho front, members are rightly interpreting the mind ,of the people of. the Dominion. Somo strong opinions were expressed during the. debate on tho Estimates on Friday last regarding the inadequacy of the separation allowances for married soldiers. Tho explanation given, by the Minister of Defence was bv no means convincing. He practically admitted that tho existing rates are too low, but he endeavoured to justify them on tho ground that the policy of the Government was not to offer a s'pccial inducement to men with six or seven children to go to . the' front,' but rather to discourage such men from going. Tho single-men-first rule has undoubtedly much to commend it, and if tho Government desire' to make cork-in that men with children shall not go until all the eligible unmarried men have gone, it should not allow them Jo enlist. But as long as the services of such men are accepted; it is the plain and positive duty of State to provido an adequate separation allowance. On this point there is no room for. difference of opinion, though opinions may differ as to the wisdom of permitting married men witli families' to go to the front 'at the present stage. Tho feeling of the House in favour of increasing the allowance was so pronounced that the Minister actually promised to ask Cabinet to reconsider the position. The demand is so obviously fair that it should not bo unreasonable .to takeut for granted that reconsideration will result in a substantial increase in the present rates. ' Parsimony in a 'matter of "this kind will meet with emphatic' disapproval, both in Parliament and the country.