NEW ZEALAND’S LIMIT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 6 July 1917, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S LIMIT.

JSIR JOSEPH WARD’S OPINION. ABOUT ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WELLINGTON, Tuesday. . Discussing contributions ' in men Horn me overseas Dominions to tire assistance of the Motherland, Sir Joseph .Ward in his speech , to-night pointed out that Canada pledged herself to half a million men. Australia notwithstanding difficulties, had practically pledged TTself to half a million, and New Zealand —speaking for himself, he put our limit at about a hundred thousand men. That was an enormous proportion of our population. (Hear, “Sear), But New Zealand had done so well already, that he did not think she would hesitate to continue doing her part now that the war was drawing nearer, the end. We were drawing so near the end now that it would be folly not to' sink all differences, and stand shoulder to shoulder in this country. in our determination to .continue doing our part. (Hear, hear). , Do not let them run away with the idea that it was going to take eighteen months to get our N*ew Zealand soldiers back after the war. It was not going to take six months, and the reason of thalTwas the wonderful organisation of the transport system—an organisation of a magnitude not dreamt of at the beginning of the war.

Sir Joseph .Ward also declared that every New Zealand soldier on the West front would he given an opportunity of seeing the Old Country before being brought back to New Zealand. So far as our men in Egypt were concerned, the position was different. It would be difficult to get them to England with such a great call on the transport system. He could not say whether they would be given an op portunity of seeing the Old Country, though they all deserved it. A Member: They want to come straight back.