CALL TO ARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1915, Page 5

CALL TO ARMS.

RECRUITS AND THE MEDICAL EXAM. THE NEXT QUOTAS REVISED^ TARANAKI'S NEW NUMBERS. The action of the Defence Department in withholding (lie names of recruits has been adversely criticised in Bomo quarters, it being regarded as discouraging to men. The Defence Department have expressed the opinion that many men have enlisted simply to get their names in the newspapers, and then fail at go before the doctor for medical examination, hut this morning we are able to publish facts which show a different interpretation. < The position in respect of the recruits who have enlisted at Mr. A. B. Gibson's olliee may be cited to disprove tho suggestion, (in|, uf ft 7 recruits regiatered with Mr. (Jibson only 13 havo failed to present themselves for medical examination, and the fault lias not been with themselves. One, a cheese factory manager, some miles from town, was unable to stay until the doctor was disengaged, and was making cheese on the Thursday, tho day fived by the department for examination of recruits at the Drill Hall, His only hope/therefore, is to come in' on Sunday and run his chance of catch* ing the doctor. Another, a farmer fromj Okoke, made an appointment, but ua» fortunately the doctor wag unable to keep it, and he had to ; go home, but will probably have presented himself at Waitara. Three young men belonging to New Plymouth being under the age limit (although they put in their ages as 20) have been requested to stand down for a while; four men from Awakino, being unable to wait until Thursday, will also go before the doctor at Waitara at the first opportunity; throe waterside workers have failed to face tho doctor, and no doubt they find it difficult to get away on the Thursday; and one man (whose name appeared in the paper) merely registered on the understanding that ho wa* to come up for examination when he had the permission of his own medical man, as lie had only recently undergone mi operation, 'and it was never intended that his name should have been pub* lished.

The Wellington military district (which includes Tnrnnaki) quotas for the Tenth Reinforcements have been considerably altered, but no alteration has been made lo Taranaki's contribution, which is as follows: Mounted 96, Ar. tillery 9, Engineers 4, Infantry 328, Army Service Corps 1, ambulance 2, total 425. Taranaki's quota is considerably more than that asked for from any other part of the Wellington district, the figures being:— Wellington city and suburbs 311 Manawatu ...' „..,, 248 Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay .. 198 Wairarapa v ., 162 Taranaki ...v....*„>,*, 425 Total -.-.w.-vpi-.t.-.-... 1348 The number of men on the books up to last Friday were as follows: Taranaki „ you Wellington city and suburbs 683 Manawatu ' 539 Wairarapa , 338 flawke's Bay and Poverty Bay 7. 257 Total ti . 2660 The total of 2560 men on the books is reduced by twenty-five per cent, when allowances are made for unfitness and those unavailable. According 'to ths official figures the strength of Taranaki's men available is reduced to 212 and to make up a revised quota of 323 there in a shortage"6f 111 for the Tenth Reinforcemente, to leave about the 15th imt.