The Chronicle LEVIN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1917

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 October 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1917

Reinforcements Reduced. Ministerial statements in the House this week have indicated that the demands of war upon the manhood of New Zealand have been relaxed to a very considerable extent. Hitherto it had been been expected that the Second Division would be called into camp in January. The Minister for Defence now states, however, that the men of the first class of the Second Division will not be mobilised until March. This postponement has been made possible by the reduction in the monthly reinforcement rate and the fact that two reinforcements will not be called up at their due date. It is also stated that a further substantial reduction will be made in the Dominion's monthly draftThese alterations will have the effect of greatly easing the strain on the man-power of the country. Sanguine observers will connect the change of policy with Sir Douglas Haig's smashing blows on the German armies in Flanders, where the New Zealanders are fighting so brilliantly. It may be, however, that the cause is the reported congestion in the camps and the difficulty of coping with regular drafts in the next few months. In any case the respite is a welcome one and will be appreciated especially by the Government, faced as it is by serious problems of finance. It will be hoped that before the period al- | lowed ends the course of events on the battlefields of Europe will have brought peace in eight The Show. Recent references to Levin and its lack of interest in the district show have called forth a statement of the businessmen's point of view. In a letter in this it-sue this correspondent ;issit : s that the fault is not altogether with the town, and that trie Agricultural and Pastoral Associa-

tion must become more progressive if it is to receive the full sympathy of the townspeople. The show programme is criticised as being insufficiently attractive to the small farmer a ad the townsman. These are points of the first importance which the Association cannot afford to neglect if it wishes to avoid stagnation and advance with the growth of the towns within its district. We suggest that the Association set up a special committee, preferably including representatives of the business centres, to revise the schedule and bring it into line with other shows. A? was pointed out in last issue, it was a similar change of policy that marked the turning point in the fortunes of the Manawatu Association.