New Zealand.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 269, 23 April 1915, Page 5

New Zealand.

GOOD RECRUITNG. Wellington, April 22. The Minister of Defence states that the personnel of the howitzer battery offered to the Imperial Government lias already been secured. That means about 4:0O men. As to the infantry, he understands that sufficient offers are being made. ... FOOTBALL AND WAR. LEAGUE OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED. AUSTRALIAN TOUR INDEFINITE. Auckland, Yesterday. In discussing the Sydney Daily Telegraph's criticism of the New Zealand Rugby Leagues' proposal to send a team to Australia, Mr. Carlaw, president of the New Zealand Council, said the tour had not heen definitely arranged. An invitation was received from the New South Wales League to send a team in June, and the New Zealand Council decided that the unsettled conditions resulting from the war were too pronounced for the invitation to be accepted outright. The New South Wales League was asked to make the invitation good for a later stage in the season, and no further action would be taken until a reply was received. As regards the ethics of the matter, it was essential that large mfmbers of men should remain in isolated countries like New Zealand to maintain the defence and industry. These included a fair proportion of footballers, and why should they be debarred from using the sporting field for muscular development? He would like to ask the critics what they had to say; about continuing horse racing during the war. Mr. Sheehan, chairman of the Rugby League, said he was of opinion that t.'int body was totally) averse to sending teams out of the Dominion at the present time. It was not the Dominion's turn to visit Australia, as New South Wales and Queensland were expected to come here first. He did not think this would be done while the war conditions were so complicated.