22nd REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2907, 20 October 1916, Page 6

22nd REINFORCEMENTS

AUCKLAND DISTRICT'S . SHORTAGE

' ' SEARCH FOR ABSENTEE RECRUITS

Tho Auckland Military District's draft for tho 22nd Reinforcements reached, camp 169 men short of its required strength. Tho "Wellington district's shortage was 287, so that tho total deficiency for tho North Island is 456 men. Tho extent of the South Island shortages is - not .J'elf clear. The Cantor bury draft reached 'camp yesterday, hut tho West Coast section has still to arrive. The Otago draft is now oil its way from tho south, and will reach camp this morning. Tho total South Island shortage probably will.be rather less than tho Worth Island .shortage, tho Canterbury and Otago" districts having made something of a spurt during tho last fow Auckland was asked to provide 67!) jnen of all arms for the 22nd Reinforcements, and 30 .probationary non-com-missioned officers for the 25tlj Reinforcements. The actual number ot men sont into camp was 510, leaving t a shortage of 169. Twenty-six n.c.o.'s wore provided, so £hat four are still 'required. Auckland, like Wellington, has been asked to send forward additional men to reach camp on Wednesday nest.

Of the 12 men who failed to mobilise ih Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) on Tuesday < morning, five liavo now boen accounted for. Three explained their absence on Wednesday, and two others were sent into, camp yesterday, the Defen'co authorities having located them. Tho remaining seven men have not been apprehended yet, and xB appears that most if not all of • them havo joined ships trading to Wellington. Active steps are being taken • by the Defence authorities to find theso men, who are liable to arrest as deserting soldiers in any part of the British -Empire. The' following, additional reorults have Seen attested at the Town Hall recruiting office: — H. Box, engineer, Wairoa. \ A. Foster, mechanic. Hastings. D. Hunt, cashier, City. 0. W. Hayden, labourer, City. A. Church, clerk, City. G. 6. Golly, clerk, Johnsoavillo. F. 0. Waymouth, engineer, PjJmerston North. W. A. Smith, clerk, Lyall Bay. •W. D. Smith, : engineer, City. 1,.- W. Butler, chemist, Island Bay. J. Davis, labourer. City. ' "E. Sullivan, fireman. City. I'. R. Winchcomb, clerk, Mornington. J. M'Donald, fireman, City. V. Wahren, grocor, City. F. M. Thomson, mechanic, City. (J. W. Martin, painter, l J etone. L. A. Hendle, telegraphist, Kelburn. H. Walkor, machinist, City. J. t Walker, seamon, City. ' A.' Edlin, telegraphist, City. •J. O'Donovan, clerk, City. J. Stiller, bacteriologist, City. G. W. Horsley, joweiler, City. J. Turnbull, ironmonger. City. H .0. Workman, botomaker, Johnsonvillo. P. Reville, clerk, City. . G. L. Osborne, clerk, C3ty. W. H. Ward, grocor/Seatouri. Sixteen of tiieso men were attested /estorday, but only three of them stated their willingness to join tho Twentysecond Reinforcements. One man chose the Twenty-third Reinforcements, nine men selected the draft, and the remaining three men enlisted for the Motor Boat Patrol.- Group 5 needs men at once to cover the shortage in " tho Twenty-second-Reinforcements.