MEN WANTED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 7

MEN WANTED

—4 —— SHORTAGE OF OVER 600 INCOMPLETE DRAFTS FOR 21st " REINFORCEMENTS Tie shortage iu the Twenty-Hrst Reinforcements is proving larger even than was expeoted earlior in tie week. Bach' military district appears to bo having tho same experience in tlio neglect of many registered men to answer the mobilisation coll, and it is apparent now that tho total shortages will not be fewer than 600 men. This includes tho shortage of 218 men carried forward from' last month, when tho Twentieth Reinforcements failed to muster in full strength. The Wellington Military Distriot, as stated yesterday, has a shortage of 303 men; the Auckland draft, winch went into camp on Wednesday, has proved, to be 170 men short of the quota, and the Canterbury draft, which reached camp yesterday, is not loss than 100 men belotv requirements, The Otago draft will reach Wellington this morning, and it. is reported in a telegram from Diinedin to bo "about sixty short." Tho call in every case is for additional men for the Infantry. The military authorities are perplexed how to account for tho big shortage, in view of the fact that the registrations were ample in almost every part of tho country. Some of the groups, have enough names on thoir. books to cover their shortages, but they cannot couut upon tho meii fulfilling their undertaking. "Apparently men all over the country, although , registered for service' as volunteers, have decided to wait until the Military Service Act is brought into full operation," said one officer yesterday. "The position is perplexing, since wo expected that men would rather be in a hurry to reach camp ahead of tho first batch of conscripts'. The Dopartment will . learn what tlio". facts arc when it calls upon tho registered men to come forward ajid take tho oath, under the new scheme about to.- lie introduced, since tho recruiting lists will then be purged of those who liavo registered but aro not willing to serve at the dates fixed by themselves." .. •' The Rceruiting Board wishos tho public to understand that the call now being made for recruits is an urgent, one. ' When the Twentieth Reinforcements went into camp short, the Defence .authorities decided to add the number of additional men required to the . Twenty-first Reinforcements, tho deficiency being covered in the meantime by the Reserve. But the'shortage, instead of being .wiped out, has beentrebled, and a special effort requiros to be made now to..couplets'tho supple-' montary drafts, which are to go into camp on .Tuesday next. The nariies of twenty-two additional men who have been accepted for service in Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) are given below, but only foui of theso men> have stated their readiness to go into camp next week,:— P. T. Williams, mechanic, City. E. Taylorj bushman, City. \ E. Cain, miner, City. C. B. Hinu, photographer, City. H., T.. Bray, seaman, City. J. Clarke, motor-driver, Auckland. A. T. Backhouse, labourer, City. J. A. Moore, driver, City. H. B. Parsonage,. clerk, City. A. J. S. Zoul, warehou6cihan, ■ City. W. Shepherd, farmer, City; E. Webb, station hand, City. W. Bohau,, clerk, City. . M. Drury, cook, City. A. H. Higgison,' labourer, City. W. Wilkinson, labourer,.pity, R. D. Forbes, .compositor,. City. - S. Stephens, miner, City. H. A. Jenkins, clerk, Khandallah. 11. J. Walsh, driver, City. J. K. Kegan, grocer's assistant, City. C. F. M. Anderson, fitter, City. OTAGO QUOTA SIXTY SHORT. By Telegraph—Press Association.' Dune din, September 21. The Otago quota for the Twenty-first Reinforcements left Diinedin ■ to-day, 'about sixty, short.