THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2916, 31 October 1916, Page 6

THE CALL FOR MEN

NEW RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITY

During the next twelve days the Defence Dopartment requires to enlist some 1400 men to- cover shortages in the Twenty-second Reinforcements and complete tho Twenty-third Reinforcements. This is the last call for volunteers, since after November 11 any shortage then existing and any shortage that may occur later will be mado up by compulsory enlistment, and tho Department is taking steps tomake it emphatic. Yesterday, for tho first time, the staff dergeant-majors from the various groups appeared as recruiting officers, adorned with the plaits of red, white, and bluo ribbon, so familiar in the United Kingdom, and bent upon persuading. young men to get into camp without waiting to be fetched.

The active work of canvassing for recruits had been in the hands, up till yesterday, of tho citizens recruiting committees, ■ patriotic socioties, , and other volunteer, organisations. Tho work-in some districts had been done well. In other districts, Wellington, for example, it had scarcely been attempted., Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) has now been divided into, convenient areas for tho purpose of a canvass, and a sergeant-major has been detailed to each area. His duty during the next twelve days will be to interview as many of tho young men as possible, and impress upon them tho desirability of their enlisting promptly if they aro fit for service, and able to make the sacrifice that more than 60,000 New Zealandors have ' already made. The great majority of the staff non-commissioned officers throughout New Zealand now are returned soldiers, and they are able to make their appeal as men who have already "done their bit."

The uniformed recruiting officers will visit shops and offices, factories, and all other places where men aro to be found. They represent tho voluntary system, not conscription. They are appealing for volunteers, and upon the extent of the response to their appeal will depend the need, or otherwise, for the operation of the compulsory clauses of the -Military Service Act during the coming month. The number of men required for the'' next month's draft (including tho shortages) is 2475; the number of Tecruits accepted and attested for the drafts up to Saturday evening was 1029, leaving an apparent deficit of 144 ft But against this thero is ( an undetermined asset in the form of men who will bo taken into camp under clause 35 of tho Act. A ready response to the new recruiting appeal on the part of reservists of tho First Division might make it unnecessary for the Defence Dopartment to take a ballot next month. . The "Family Shirker." Some of the men who have received notices under Clause 35 of tho Act are complaining that tho period allowed them for appeal is too short. Apparently, they havo misunderstood the position. Tho period of ten days allowed for appeals extends from tho date of tho delivery of tho notice, not tho date of. its 1 dispatch from Defence Headquarters. When a man who is affected by Clause 35 receives his notice to show cause before a Military Sen-ice Board why he .should not be called up for service with tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he has ten days within which to lodge an appeal, stating tho grounds on which he objects to boing required to serve. If he does not appeal, ho becomes a member of the Expeditionary Force on tho eleventh day, and will then tcceivo orders as to his future movcnionfcs. The number of appeals yet received by Defence Headquarters is not large. It is expected, however, that the majority of the men who recoivo notices under Clause 35 will appeal on one ground or another. The notices arc being served on every son in the alleged "shirking families," but the authorities do not suppose that every son should serve at the present juncture. They are assuming that a fair selection will be made by the Military Service Boards when the appeals are being considered. • Wellington Recruits. The following additional men havo been attested at tho Town Hall Recruiting Office:— ' J. M'Namee, fireman,- City. E. Allpress, labourer, City. R J. Adams, warehouseman, City.