RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1496, 13 January 1916, Page 2

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. Wellington, Jan. 11. At a meeting of the Recruiting Board, held on Monday and presided over by the Prime Minister, a scheme of recruiting to enable the Dominion to fulfil its obligations to the Imperial Government during the present year was under consideration. An outline of the scheme as adopted by the Board has now been issued by the Prime Minister.

The scheme provided tor the duties of the Recruiting Board and organisation, and the duties of recruiting committees in the various parts of the Dominion. An important feature of the scheme is the decision to issue badges to those who attest. Mem* bers of the Board believe that the wearing of these badges will act as a great help to the recruiting movement. Necessary and detailed instructions to give effect to the scheme are now being prepared, and will in due course be issued to recruiting committees. After dealing with the duties, etc., of the Board as already published, the scheme refers to the district work and the organisation of recruiting committees. (1) Pending the preparation of alphabetical rolls by the Government statistician, it is intended that the following bodies shall be asked if they are willing to cooperate with the Recruiting Board for the formation of recruiting committees : —(a) County Councils, (b) City and Borough Councils (c) Town Boards (d) existing recruiting organisations not included in (a), (b) or (c). (2) In addition to the above it may also be considered advisable to secure the co operation of the following:—(a) Farmers Unions, (b) Labour Unions, (c) School Committees, (d) Road Boards. The great essential is that the committees shall be capable of appealing to all classes. (3) It is definitely laid down that no person engaged in a personal canvass shall be a man himself eligible for service unless he has enlisted.

Group recruiting committees shall ascertain from officers what men have not been approached in their locality, and also shall ascertain the names of men who have apparently no good excuse for declining to volunteer and further to ensure that the personal appeal Is made by a person likely to have the greatest influence over the possible recruit. It has been decided that the system of badges shall be instituted in appropriate colours to be issued ; (a) To those who have attested, and are waiting to be called up, (b) to those who have enlisted but who may be rejected as physically unfit or on other grounds, (c) to those who have enlisted but who may afterwards be exempted for special reasons, fd) to members of the Expeditionary Force who have