MAN POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1918, Page 3

MAN POWER

SPECULATIONS AS TO CLASS D MEN.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Tho Defence authorities have been investigating the man-power problem lately. Figures already published have been sufficient to show that tho period for which New Zealand call continue to send men is strictly limited, but there is not much doubt that she will be able to keep up reinforcements at the present rate up till the beginning of 1920, which means reinforcements for the fighting front up till August of that year. Assuming that the war ends in 1919 there is practically no chance of any I) Class men seeing any fighting, and quite u large number of tile C. men will miss it.

It has already been announced that tho December draft will not be called into camp in that month, and it is all but a certainty that the January draft will also be dropped. No definite information can be obtained about, the November draft. It is a small draft, and it may not be needed. If it is not wanted, that would have the effect of postponing other drafts. A postponement for a period of three months, which this would entail, would make it possible to defer the ballot of the D. Class men for some time, and it will not be surprising if tbe authorities do make such a break. But tbe September and October men will have to go in on their duo dates. They arc bigger drafts than are needed to keep up the allotted quotas, and it is this fact which makes the other postponements possible.

No men going into camp later than February will have a chance of being in next year’s fighting, so that if the war ends next year, the three-children men will not see any of it.