THE NEW SCHEME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17288, 2 October 1916, Page 3

THE NEW SCHEME.

IN OPERATION IN CANTERBURY. GENERAL ROBIN'S VISIT. Brigadier-General Sir Alfred Robin, Commandant of the Forces, was busy in Christcnurch on Saturday, with Jolouei (Jhaffey, Officer Commanding the Canterbury Military District, Finnis, General fcStatf Officer, and utner officers, in connection with tiic .scheme represented by the Military Service Act, He had a long conference with the officers in the Deience .Department's rooms in the Government Buildings, inspected the recruiting office in Cathedral fequare, and vitited the offices of the Citizens' Defence Corps, where he met members of the executive- ; / Later, in conversation with a representative of the "Lyttclton Times" General Robin said that the machinery for putting the* new scheme into operation was working very smoothly and very satisfactorily. Although tho new Act gave great powers, the voluntary principle wmen had done so much for New Zealand and for the Empire, wo'uld be encour,a'>ed and fostered, as far as possible. There would be no departure from it until it was absolutely necessary to fall back upon compulsion. But one clause of the Act would be put into force at once. It waß Clause •io "iving power to call for service on any families that had not sent men to the ranks. As a matter of fact, it was in operation now, and, to that extent compulsion had been imposed, and would be observed in tho future. Many details had to bo thought out, tho General said, but he was. pleased at the way in which tho work was being done, especially in Christchurch. He complimented tho local officers and also tho Citizens' Defence Corps for its work amongst recruits. One result of tho change would be the equalisation of contributions from different military districts. Each district would have a debit and credit account of the men it sent forward, and a balance on either side for one quota would be considered in tho demand for the next quota. Discussing the publication of local information in the newspapers. General Robin said that there would be no change in that direction whatever, J except as to the proportions; of; men* for different arms of the service; , Tho public still would he informed pf-■$"»"

progress, of recruiting, the names of recruits, the strength of reinforcements, and so on. General Robin has visited Auckland in connection with the scheme, and he will visit Dunedin this week.