THE NEW RECRUITING SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1489, 23 December 1915, Page 2

THE NEW RECRUITING SCHEME.

DETAILS APPROVED,

Cabinet on Tuesday carefully considered the details of the new scheme of recruiting to maintain the Dominion’s pledged regular contributions to the Empire’s fighting forces in order to maintain at full strength our Expeditionary Forces in the services of Britain and the Allied Powers. Great interest has been evinced in this new scheme, of which, it may be incidentally mentioned, His Excellency the Governor has consented to act as patron, and Ministers in Cabinet gave their final approval. The new arrangement will come into force as soon as the necessary machinery can be got into working order, and the work of organisation and control is placed in the hands of the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen), and the Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward). THE DRAFT SCHEME.

The lollowing comprise the details of the draft scheme as approved by Cabinet:— i. There shall be one principal recruiting centre in each provincial district, and also in every county, city and borough throughout the Dominion, with a conveniently - situated recruiting office.

2. The recruiting for each district, county or borough shall be controlled by a central council composed of members of the representative local bodies and any other representative men who are willing to assist. 3. Each county shall be subdivided into comparatively small areas. For instance, areas approximating to school committee districts, and all members of local bodies shall be asked to assist in the recruiting campaign. 4. The method of recruiting shall be by moral suasion, i.e., by personal interviews between members of the organisation and possible recruits, though public meetings may be necessary in the larger centres. 5. The Parliamentary representatives for eacu district shall be asked to assist—this to apply to members of both branches of the legislature. 6. Th2 newspapers shall be asked to encourage the movement, especially by reports of recruiting meetings and the progress of the movement in the different districts.

7. For the purpose of this scheme, it is proposed to have alphabetical lists of all men between 19 and 44 years of age, showing whether married or unmarried.

8. The quota for each month will be allotted up to the end of 1916, and, every endeavour must be made to secure a sufficient number of recruits for each month’s requirements. 9. The organisation to secure the number of recruits required will be under the control of a board consisting of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, and the Defence Minister.

10. ‘The scheme of organisation will be so arranged as to permit of a personal appeal to each man of military age on the alphabetical list, and a general appeal to the public by speeches, band music, etc.

xi. Existing recruiting organisations shall, where possible, be maintained, and be co-ordinated with the general organisation of county councils, borough councils, road boards, town boards, school committees, unions, and any other form of organisation that may be deemed advisable, the idea being that all classes shall assist in the personal appeal. 12 The organisation will advise about men required for industries, and for this purpose the board will require the assistance of the Departments of Labour, Munitions, Agriculture, Mines, Railways, etc., so that exceptions from military service may be granted where essential for the support of the industry. 13. Alphabetical rolls should be available for the local recruiting committees.

Note. —The date when a man enlists, and when he proceeds to camp, and the results of the personal appeal, should be noted on the roll, and the recruiting committees should add to the roll names of all men not already on it. The roll shall not be open for public inspection, but only to the committee.