RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 286, 12 May 1915, Page 4

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.

MINISTERS ON THE WARPATH. , HON. J. ALLEN MAY GO TO Tgß FRONT. (By Wire— Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May IV, Both tlie Prime Minister and tho Minister of Defence are going to addre-39 recruiting meetings this week, the one at Palmerston North and the other at Ashburton. The. Ministers would like to ba relieved of all anxiety regarding recruits for at least six months to come, and to that end they arc pressing upon the attrition of tho able-bodied young men of the country tho duty of speedy registration. The man without dependents who hangs back now must bo a laggard indeed. But, in justice to the youth of tho Dominion, it should bo said that recruits have beeri coming forward at a groatly-increased rate since the casualty lists from the Dardanelles began to impress upon thorn the seriousness of the work the Empire has in hand. The Defence authorities have bean able to maintain a very high physical standard, involving the rejection of many hundreds of would-be recruits for comparatively small defects or for minor >iepartures from the requirements laid down. The number of men in Trentham camp at the present time is stated to' be nearer 5000 than 4000, and the authorities will be able to fill at once the vacancies loft by the departure of thft ' next batch of reinforcements. The huts already erected and those in hand and authorised by the Minister will provide accommodation for nearly 6000 officers and men at Trenthanij and it is believed now that the camp will be full nearly j all the winter. The Defence Minister himself, by the way, is understood to be serious in his expressed intention of going to the front himself if occasion oilers. His name has been added to the list of available officers. Mr. Allen is a lieutenant-colonel, and for'very many years—ever since he ceased to be #n active footballer—lie lias been connected with the defence forces of the Dominion, lie has been a keen soldier and a popular officer. His colleagues in the Cabinet might find it hard to fill his place. His departure would not affect the statu of parties in Parliament, since the Liberal whips would giant him a pair for the whole period of his absence.