Awaiting the Call

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 2 September 1914, Page 8

Awaiting the Call

PLANS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY CONTINGENTS.

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

Preparations for the dispatch of the New Zealand Expeditionary Pome have been completed, and the contingent is now ready in all 1 particulars to respond immediately it receives the 'lmperial order to sail from New Zealand.

"It is our duty to keep the force up to the strength and size at which it S sent away," the Minister for Defence stated to a Dominion reporter. "The Imperial policy is to maintain a steady improvement of the British forces at the front, and though we may not ho required to improve our numbers, it is necessary that we should make provision for shrinkage in the New Zealand force caused by sickness and wastage, by sending additional men." Mr Allen indicated that the first supplementary contingent ■will be composed largely of men who volunteered for the main force, and were not required. "The number of volunteers was considerably in excess of the numbora required," said Mr Allen. "When the time cornea to ask for further volunteers, if necessary we shall ask for them." ®

The Palmerston North camp was visited on Saturday by Sir J. G. Ward and Messrß Buick, Dickson, Bollard, Bscott, Harris, and other members of (Parliament. On Sunday, Mr L. G. and Mrs West, parents of the late Trooper West, who died last week, presented the New Zealand Ensign to his late camp comrades of .T Battery. Quartermaster-Ser-geant Cuff, acknowledging the gift, said they would hoist the flag wherever they possibly could on the same occasion as the Union Jack.