New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 8, 13 December 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

107 PRESSMEN SOLDIERS. Peb Press Association. Wellington, December 12. About thirty pressmen now in camp or waiting to be called up were entertained at a social gathering last night by their Wellington confreres and representatives of papers north and south. Mr Fred Earle, president of the Journalists' Institute, presided. The Prime Minister also forwarded a letter expressing his warm appreciation of the manner in which pressmen had responded to the call of the Empire. The chairman said the 107 journalists of New Zealand known to have enlisted included one lady, who was a member of the nursing division now serving in the Mediterranean. About a dozen had been killed and nearly a score wounded. Captain Shand (Thames Star) was the principal respondent to the toast of "Our Guests," and Privates SAviney (New Zealand Herald) and Field (Dominion) also responded.

CASUALTIES TO DATE NEARLY 8000. Wellington, December 11. , The casualties to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force up to and including 6th December, totalled 7904. Of these 1117 officers and men had been killed in action, 522 died of wounds, 254 died of disease, and 657 were mlssinjr. Details are as under:—

ROTORUA WANTS COMPULSION. Rotorua, December 11. At a meeting held on Friday night, the following resolution was adopted: "That the executive of Rotorua Centre of Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Distress Relief Association is emphatically of the opinion that the voluntary system is unfair, and has proved ineffective, and urges the Government to establish compulsory military service with the least possible delay."

RECEIVING CAMPS. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. Wellington, December 11. A deputation of eleven members of Parliament, representing Auckland. Wairarapa, Gisborne, Christchurch and Nelson waited upon the Prime Minister to-day, urging that preparatory and receiving camps be established. Dr. Thacker headed the deputation and explained, among other things, that such camp s would help recruiting. The chief argmnent of the country members of Parliament at present was that receiving camps were advisable for holding men who come into town to enlist, and sometimes go away disgusted with waiting and return to other jobs. Both the Premier and the Defence ! Minister emphasised that nothing must be allowed to interfere with the training system, which had received such great praise from authorities at the front, in the effect it had in turning out such fine troops from New Zealand. Mr Massey said ' there seemed to be something in the suggestion for receiving o*- holding camps, and as the deputation urged it as a ■natural request, representing the feelling of the country, Cabinet would go> into the matter and take the advice jof their military authorities.

i»»£. J/ouauu n< Officers. Men. ' Tl. Killed ... 74 1043 1117 Died of wounds 21 501 . 522 Died of disease 9 245 254 Missing 22 ' 635 657 Prisoners of war — 23 23 216 5115 5331 Totals 342 7562 Wfw-