DEFENCE NOTES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 2 November 1915, Page 4

DEFENCE NOTES.

Messrs, W. Dockery, of Mataroa, D. Trssey and D. Sloan, of Tailiapo, left Tailiape yesterday for camp at Trentham,

During the week-end, the following men volunteered for active service and passed the medical test: —-Messrs, 11,I 1 , n. PeilieriVige, Box Co., Ohvxtu; Charles King, Turangarero; J. Goldie, Box C 0.,. Ohutu; K p. Sween-ey, FXX, Taihape.

The following merr resident' in this district have? received notices, to procoed to camp on the loth November:—

Moimted titles: C. B. Allen, X Cbrntord, A. Poster, S. G. Herbert. C, W, Hole, L. Franklin, J. I). Brittain.

Infantry;- J. Ahearn, N. P. Bat ley, J. p '? Utts , W J C Billon, J. a.. Floyd, E. Givane, If. F. Griffen, 1,. HoHmos. M. Union a, J. Hill, H. D. Hlston, A. Johnl 0n ’ A ‘ E - Livingston, E. C. Nissen, J. V T • BBBddin, L. McCarthy, j.lcLaaghlan, 8. Pedersen, T I Potro J. Reed. P. G. 0. Simpson,’ W. B. Williams. A/ H. Williams; W. E M ilhams. There are five others yet to be notified.

Staff-Sergeant-Major Turkey lias rn . coved the following notification from Headquarters :■—The.' condition flmt a man must not exceed 12 stone- in weight before being accepted for service m the Expeditionary Force is hereby cancelled and abolished for all arms, excepting mounted rifles and all drivers. Men required for all arms °thor than Mounted Rifles and drivers, who are over 12 stone in weight, nray be accepted for service, provided they are physically fit in all other respect's, and on condition that the examining medical officer is satisfied that they womd be fit to stand active service conditions. ”

Following is a copy of the circular which is being issued by the Defence authorities to the men who are being called up to go into camp:—“Your offer of service with the Infantrv [Mounted Rifles] quota of the 10 th Reinforcement has been accepted. You will parade at the R a jb way Station at a.m. on the 15th November, 1915, and will proceed to camp by train leaving

.... a.m. Should you be unable- to attend you will notify the Defence Department at once, otherwise your name will be struck oft’ the list of those offering for service. The only clothing necessary for you to bring into camp will be an old suit of clothes and a strong serviceable pair of boots, which will be worn; also your toilet outfit. Free kits will bo issued on arrival in camp

Throughout the Dominion, officers of the Defence Department, Area-Sergeant Majors in particular, are being put to no end of trouble and inconvenience through men registering for service and passing the medical examination, but omitting to report when called upon to proceed to camp. One individual has done this on no less than three occasions, and Ms action has resulted in a groat deal of annoyance to the area-sergeant-major concerned. Of course, there are cases where such action is not the fault of the volunteer, but is rather the result of force of circumstances, but it is apparent that some men register and then have no intention of going any further in the matter. Such conduct should be< strongly condemned and it is trusted that now some publicity has been given to this question, there will be fewer instances. The worst ease that has come under the notice of a “Daily Times” representative would be hard to beat. A certain man applied to be enrolled, passed the medical test, and he then asked the area-sergeant-major if he could find work to keep him occupied till it was necessary to proceed to camp. Putting himself to no little Inconvenience, the sergeant-major got the man a job, but when the notificatioon to proceed to camp was sent to the man he disappeared and has not communicated with the Defence authorities at all.