New Zealand.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 312, 11 June 1915, Page 3

New Zealand.

OUR DUTY TO BRITAIN. SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. HOW IT IS BEING PERFORMED. , Wellington, June 8. fspeaking at a patriotic concert at the lown Hall to-night, his Excellency the Governor referred to several points in connection with the war. He was going to express his opinion, which might not agree with the opinions of some other people. "During the last seven or eight days," he stated, "we have had a definite pronouncement of a very important kind from the man who used to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and is now Minister of Munitions, Mr. Lloyd George. (Applause). That pronouncement has somewhat loosened my tongue where I have had to be very guarded before. The question the people of this country want answered is whether they are doing all that they should do to assist the Motherland in the present crisis. Let me just sketch the position as it stands to-day. We here in New Zeatond—and this is not a question of any particular Government, for it would be the same with an Government that

lappened to be in office—have been in

I very close touch with the Imperial authorities since the outbreak of the war. We asked in the first instance What they wanted us to do, and we have cried out at the task that they set before us. At the present moment what we really lack ,in-the British Empire is a sufficient supply of arms, equipment and munitions. That is not a pleasant fact, but do not let us disguise it. The nation was not prepared for this great straggle, and I do not think we should blame the Government for not being prepared for such a gigantic war. Only a month be-, fore war was declared a portion of our fleet was being entertained at the Kiel. Canal by the people who were planning

this tremendous outbreak, and there was no hint then of what was coming. Now the Imperial Government greatly appreciates -what we have done in New Zealand, and is highly gratified at the way in which its suggestions have heen carried out. They laid down for us a curriculum which they asked us to follow closely, and that curriculum laid down the character of the training that all eoldicrs were to receive before they went to the front. So far we have not had to ask the Imperial Government for any assistance in connection with arms or equipment, though the rule has been laid down that all men going to the front must be armed and equipped in the regulation way, hut here in New Zealand we have only a certain quantity of anns and equipment, and we know that the Imperial authorities have no surplus. They are trying very hard to solve this problem of munitions. In the meantime we in this country have got to face the fact that, if we try to force Urn pace bp going beyond what the Imperial authorities have asked us to do, we will reach the place where we will not be able to fulfil our engagement for the despatch of regular reinforcement drafts owing to a shortage of arms and equipment. 'The Imperial Government cannot provide more at present. T believe that the New Zealand Govern-

I ment. so far asi the despatch o'f soldiers is concerned, is doing exactly what the Imperial authorities want. Time may make a change, but at the present moment that is the position. This I would repeat is not a question of one Government or another Government. It is a question of wliat is best for the nation and the Empire. I want yon to realise fully that by the end of December we will have 30,000 men out of New Zealand on active service. One more point: 'Don't press me for, exact details. I have them, but I must not repeat them. New Zealand at the end of the year will be considerably ahead j of the other dominions in the number of men despatched per head of the population." MEDICAL OFFICERS REQUIRED. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. DISTRICTS NOT TO BE DEPLETED. Wellington, June !). The Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Defence, stated to-night that the Government has received a cable intimating that the War Office is desirous to engage additional men from New Zealand as temporary lieutenants of the R.A.M.C. Successful candidates will be required to go through a course of training at a training centre of the R.A.M.C. Candidates must be duly registered medical practitioners in New Zealand, under 3o years of age preferred, but applications from candidates up to 40 years of age will be considered. The War Ollif-e is also prepared to consider individual applications from senior medical men whose status will be considered and dealt with according to the merits of each case. .Applications under the above categories should be addressed to the Inspector-General of Hospitals. Department of Public, Health, Wellington, or, if the applicant belongs to the New Zealand. Medical Corps, to the Director of Medical Science, Wellington. In reference to the above, the Minister stated that all applications would be considered and all precautions taken with n view to prevent an undue depletion of districts of medical men. The urgency of the matter and the vital issues :i't stake render it imperative for the country to supply the demand for medical men to its utmost limit. The Government is all the more hopeful that it will he possible to spare the medical men required without unduly depleting the countrv of its civil medical service, owing to the oilers of medical men for service in any part of the Dominion where their services may be required. Arrangements are also being made with the authorities of the Dunedin Medical School for an early examination of students, it being understood that no fewer than thirty students are, qualified to sit. for the next final examination in addition to the senior students, some of whom, it is hoped, may be returned from the seat of war. "Such being the ease," concluded the Minister, -'1 am confident, provided every care is taken, as I have already mentioned, to prevent an undue depletion of the districts of ' medical men, that the country will be able to provide a large proportion of the doctors required by the authorities without seriously interfering with the civil medical service and our hospital systern. It is true some reorganisation and re-distribution of medical men may prove necessary, but I feel "sure that the splendid patriotism and unselfishness that, has been so characteristic of the New Zealand public, will allow all the necessary arrangements to be made for the benefit of the men who aro now engaged in this momentous struggle, even if we do have to suffer some little inconvenience." ' i