THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 11

THE CALL FOR MEN

A SERIOUS POSITION

21st NEARLY 700 SHORT

Exact figures regarding the mobUx* sation of the 21st Reinforcements are not yot available. The Otago draft went into camp, yesterday, aud the •West Coast section of tho Canterbury draft has yot to arrive. But it is apparent now that the'net shortago for all the military distriots will not.be far short of ,700 mon,. mostly in the infantry branch. The prospects coverins this big shortage by Tuesday next, the date fixed by the Staff for ' the reception "of supplementary drafts, . is not bright unless the districts make a special effort. ■ '. Five of the men sent in from Canterbury .were rejected at the preliminary medical examination in camp. Tho , present shortage in the Canterbury, draft includes 8 Mounted Rifles, 2 At-, tillerv, 1 Engineer,', 1 Signaller, 3 Arnvy Servico, and 117 Infantry.-The : West Coast section, 'wluoh ; will arrive tliis evening, should contain 86 men 'of all arms, hut telegraphed reports indicate that It will have-a shortage of between 40 arid 50, making the net shortage for Canterbury about 90 men. ■ The Wellington shortage was 303' men, and the Auckland shortage 170 men. ' The Oiago shortage is approximately 72 men. V •'■/-,' '. : : ; . The deficiency, which.■!includes the shortago'of 217 men on the 20th. Reinforcements, goes far towards, extinguishing the reserve of 1000 men, and the importance of completing the supplementary drafts is;'emphasisod ,by. •tho Defence authorities.' New Zealand is still dependent upon the vol-. .. untary' system for the maintenance of ~'. tho''Reinforcements." '• The Expeditionary Force Reserve has been proclaimed, but the issue of the certificates' of enrolment probably will not be completed before tho end of next month, '.'.." and even then there will be ■ work' for ;-'. the'officialsi-to do before the first .con-: script draft, drawn by ballot from the First- Division, can be taken into camp. 'The require to be maintained in the meantime,' and there is a oall to every fit man who . can begin his training now. Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) requires 40 infantry recruits to fill vacancies in. the 21st Reinforce- :" ments. ■' Very few of the men. who' have enlisted within the last few -days • .have indicated their willingness . • to. join the'/present-, draft; the majority, of : them having elected to a?taon. them-, selves to the 22nd or 23rd Reinforce-: ments. ■ If tho Wellington draft is to be full on Tuesday, additional : men must come forpardat once;,-There are men on ;the. '• books.-. who registered months ,-ago , and .''•' stated they, would be ready in September; but these men have been called already .■'and have not responded. - Three additional-nien are required . in,! Group 3 for the Engineers. One must be' a-qualified-electrician, and two must be fitters. : - These men. are .wanted at once. Many men who have registered for the Engineers are still waiting to be called, but they have not the special qualifications mentioned .above..' , ' The following additional men have been accepted for' service in Group 5: A. Reia, plumber, city. •'✓ ■ ■ ' ,H. Sweeney, miner, city. H. H. Jacobs, draper, city. S- L v Exton, mercer city. W. Austen, driver,'' city.W. M. Kennedy,' hairdresser, city, i T. C. Woolcott, telegraphist, citv. 17- P ; Roberts, driver, city. -. " : : ■-■' H. Riohardson,:blacksmith, city./ ""'it H-.. .Sapsfardi-ijoiner,- Island.-.Bay.' ■•--• Ev: A.'-Bower,-- engineer; 'Htftaitai.:''.' '■';''H: W., Orombie. ,telegraphist,' city. - i,- §- ; Grinlinton,' telegraphist, city., ii £" roi returned soldier, city. .A. G: Hawkins,, motorman, city.