NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 15 February 1919, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

RETURNED SOLDIER SHOT

CAMBRIDGE, Fchruary 14

A returned soldier named Kenneth Hankins was found dead this morning on his farm afc Te Miro Soldiers" Settlement. There was a gunshot wound over his heart. An inquest is to be held.

FREIGHTS INCREASED

WELLINGTON, February 14

The Huddart-Parker Company announces that owing to quarantine restrictions in Australia and New Zealand steamer freight has Been increased to 7s 6d a ton, bringing the rate up to 355. Saloon and steerage fares are increased by 42s and 21s respectively, making single saloon fare £9 17s and single steerage £5 lis. These increases will cover all quarantine charges.

DOMINION WAR EFFORT.

124,211 MOBILISED,

TOTAL WASTAGE OF 42,768,

WELLINGTON, February 14. An official publication prepared by the Chief of the General Staff issued this morning reveals for the first time the extent and detail of New Zealand's effort in the war. New Zealand actually mobilised in camp for Service in the Expeditionary Force oversea 124211 men, being 11.4 per cent of her total population, men, women and children, or, in other words, a little more than one-ninth. Of the men of military age, 19 to 45 years, she sent info camp more than half, or nearly 51 per cent. The total number actually sent a"broad on active service was 100,444, being 9.3 per cent, of the total population, and nearly 42 per cent, of the total males of military age. This is specially impressive, as being three and, a-third times the number of English at Waterloo.

Of the total mobilised for foreign service no less than 91,941 were voluntary recruits, while 32,270 were sent in under the Military ServiCe"Act. Thus 74 per cent, of the men mobilised were volunteers. These voluntary recruits include 7036 home service men, so thatthe total number of volunteers recruited for the Expeditionary Force was 84,905. The total number put tHrough the recruiting machine by way of voluntary enlistment and compulsion was 220,089 out of an aggregate male population of military age, 1914, of 243,376, with an annual increment of 8000 males coming of military age. The number of reinforcements immediately available in England, France, and Egypt when the armistice was signed was just on five thousand, while in New Zealand 9924 were in training in the Expeditionary Force camps and 6932 balloted were still under orders to proceed to camp for service overseas. In addition, New Zealand, on Armistice Day, had 24,999 territorials and 28,831 senior cadets training for home defence and feeding the Expeditionary Force as they came of age. The strength of the Expeditionary Force in the field, excluding Samoa, on different dates was: December, 1914, Main Body. 8761; December, 1915, end of the Gallipoli February, 1916, when the division was formed, 21,809; March, 1917, when tide Fourth Infantry Brigade was formed, 28,000: November 11, 3 918, when the armistice was signed, 24,000. The total wastage of the 100.444 men embarked was 41.435 ; made up as follows: — Dead, 16,302.

Missing, 84. Prisoners, 356. Returned discharged to New Zealand, 20,721. In T\ T ew Zealand, returned and not discharged, 3284. Discharged in the United SRhgdem 678,

The total wastage of men while undergoing training in New Zealand camps was 11,333, including 507 died in camp and 575 deserters. Deaths in New Zealand camps include 290 during 1918, of which 268 were due to the epidemic.

ABOLITION OF RECRUITING BRANCH*

WELLINGTON this "day. The recruiting branch of the Defence Department IsTexpected to complete its work next month. Captain CoSsgroVe, who created the organisation of the branch on the passing of the Military Service Act, will leave the service when the branch is closed. Ultimately every man handled under the Act will be represented by a single file containing his complete military history. STATE MINERS STILL OUT, WELLINGTON, this day. The State coal miners are still out. The difficulty in reference to th'e provision of a doctor for the district has passed, but the men are now

demanding th<o some workers dismissed iri connection with the trouble recently at Blackball. It is stated that the miners whose reinstatement, is demanded by the State miners • have left the district. •

THE DRIVERS' DEMANDS.

OFFER BY EMPLOYERS,

AUCKLAND, this day.

In the Conciliation Court Mr. Prior, on behalf pf the employers, offered the drivers Is''4Jd per hour for a4B hours* week, with Is 3d per hour for four hours' stable time, and overtime rates for all work above these 52 hours. He also made a definite statement that at these rates the work would be permanent. The Court adjourned to enable the parties to consider the proposal.