TWENTY-FIRST REINFORCEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 23 September 1916, Page 1

TWENTY-FIRST REINFORCEMENTS

SECOND EMI IMI

WELLINGTON, This' Day.. The Recruiting Board issues the following statement:—l wish on behadt of the Recruiting Board to draw attention, to th« very serious shortage wihich has been revealed by the mobilisation of the 1 21st Reinforcements. This shortage,has been wholly caused by the failure of; the men who have registered for service in. the several districts to answer the summons to .proceed to camp to commence their training as members of the Expeditionary Force. The position; is made. all the anore serious by reason of the fact that it will not be possible to tho whole of the compulsory provisions of the Military Service Act for at least another month. ... . To make good this .shortage, it is intended to exercise the powers conferred on the Minister of Defence by- Section 35 of the Act with respect to.families containing two or more uhenlisted sons who belong to the first division of the reserve so soon as the Military Service Boards can be set up. The Board must therefore rely on the help of all Recruiting Committees' to fill the gaps in the 2st Reinforcements. I would urgently -urge upon every- Recruiting Committee to leave no stone unturned within the next few days to provide the men who are required to enable the 21st Reinforcements to commence training at full strength, and I would .particularly ask Recruiting Committees to endeavour by every means m their power to induce the men who "have registered, -but have failed to answer the call, to now. come forward, and proceed to camp.—W. F. MASSEY.