EIGHT CONTINGENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 18 December 1901, Page 2

EIGHT CONTINGENT.

AUSTRALIA. iLANGi LACK.

By TeLgiaph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, Pee. 17.

Ihe Argus status that the news that > troops for South Africa r. - being on- j rolled with enthusiasm Cauadn and i New Z.-alud must uduti some , s>arcnings of tire J tin Australia. . The broad fact p a ts itself that . while all parts ot ~-e Empire joined ; in the movement : j send troops at the beginning of the war, Australia is standing aloof at the close of the struggle. Is the Federal Government right, asks the Argus, in saying that it is not for Australia to volunteer assistance? Or are the New South Wales and Queensland Premiers right, uud the Federal Government wrong ? Mr Kartell ought to make a full statement of the Australian situation to the I'oiordal Ollico, and act on the reply if it is one of acceptance, and publish the reply if the answer is that aid is unnecessary. They do not want to have tho Mother Country thinking, 1£ Well, after all, at the end Australia hung back.”

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. For the purpose of mobilising the Eighth Contingent, officers commanding districts are instructed to arrange that selected men shall reach Wellington or Christchurch between the 3rd and Oth January. Kecvuits are to be fair riders, unmarried, and between 19 and 35 years of age. Though returned troopers are to have the preference, none who have been invalided for enteric or malaria within 12 months, or are at present on sick leave, are to be taken.

Christchurch, last night. Although the ollice for the enrolment of members of the Eighth Contingent only opened here this morning, already a large number of applications have been made by letter and personally. Enrolment offices have been established at Culverden, liangiora, Ashburton, and Timaru.