REINFORCEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1915, Page 3

REINFORCEMENTS.

IS NEW ZEALAND DOING ENOUGH? (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 25. The 1 announcement that Australia is going to provide an additional force of 50,000 men within, the next few months, over and above the regular reinforcement drafts, has raised again the question of whether or not New Zealand is doing enough. The Minister for Defence is still in Auckland and will not return to Wellington until to-morrow (Friday). In the meantime the Prime Minister has issued a general statement which has been distributed by the Press Association. It is not easy to secure exact figures, but there is no doubt that during the first year of the war New Zealand sent, away more men, on a population basis, than Australia did. Australia's monthly quota at the present time is 9500 men, as compared with New Zealand's quota of 2400 men (or about 2200 each four weeks), so that, taking the relative totals of* the populations on a 5 to 1 basis, it is clear that New Zealand has been gaining ground every month.

New Zealand's main contributions to the fighting forces o'f the Empire have been as follows:

Samoan Expedition ....-.-.-.- 1419 Main Body .' , 7701 First Reinforcements ~..■,....., 738 Second Reinforcements ..-...■ 1<)"4 Third Reinforcements 1712 Fourth Reinforcements ....-.- 2261 Fifth Reinforcements 2389 Sixth Reinforcements .......... 2440 Samoan Relief Force , fiOO Maori Contingent .- SIS Maori Reinforcements ,- 330 Seventh Reinforcements 2200 Two Rifle Battalions 2.300 Eighth Reinforcements 3500

30,142 The number of men in camp at present, reckoning the Native Reinforcements and the Tunnelling Company, is over 10,000, making a grand total of more than 40,000 men. Australia, taking population again as the basis of calculation, should have over 200,000 men at the front, and in training in order to stand on an equality with New Zealand. The actual contribution was indicated a month ago by the Federal Prime Minister, who mentioned in a cablegram to the King tint 105,000 Australians bad responded to the call of Empire. Mr. Asquith, at thj beginning of the present month, stated in the course of his review of the wtr that Australia had sent 92,000 mei H Canada 00,000, and New Zealand 25,000. Here again a comparison is all in favor of New Zealand.

The fact that New Zealand is doing as well, or better, than other States of the Empire does not prove that the Dominion's effort .should not be increased, and your correspondent has reason to believe that this point is appreciated by the Government. The Ministers are waiting for the. completed returns of the National Register. When they know just -what the resources of the Dominion arc in men of military age, fit, able, and willing to join the forces now or later-, the Government will take the whole question into consideration. A decision will be reached concerning not only the method of recruiting, but also the extent of New Zealand's future con>ibutions to the flatting forces.