RECRUITING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1916, Page 3

RECRUITING.

.. BENEFITS FROM PERSONAL CANVASS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington. Last Night. We cannot compel the recruiting committees to comply with the requests or the Recruiting Board," said the Minister for Defence (Hon. J. Allen) yesterday. "The scheme we have placed before ihe committees lays down a definite line of action, the personal canvass being a very important part of tiie whole. Wellington is not doing what we asked. Auckland has adopted a scheme of its own. Some other centres are neglecting the requests of the Board " The Minister proceeded to explain that the personal canvas? was regarded as highly important, first because itwould bring in recruits, and secondly because it would enable the committees to cheek the rolls of men of military a"e These rolls were not complete or entirely accurate. They had been based on the National Register, and it was well known that some men of military age had not returned National Register forms. Then there were transfers and errors to be allowed for. The personal canvass would bring the rolls into good condition and prepare the way for any step that might become necessary later. J GENERAL BIRDWOOD'S SCHEME. FORMATION OF A NEW ZEALAND DIVISION. "I am glad to say that I have again taken over ray New Zealand and Australian troops," says General Birclwood m a letter to the Minister for Defence. "I find, however, that in addition to our organised formations we have iu Egypt an enormous number of reinforcements and returned convalescents. So many, in fact, that it is impossible to deal with them, efficiently, as they are far too many to put into existing regiments, ™d as' unorganised units they naturally cannot be looked after properly either for discipline or training purposes. You will, therefore, have received before now my proposal to form an Australian and New Zealand Army of two corps, in lieu of the existing corps, at the base. "There will, of course, be a great deal of improvision required to get our formations right, as artillery, engineers, ambulances and trains will'all have to be worked up to larger establishments. The arrangements proposed will give every battalion its quota of experienced officers, n.e.o.'s and men. I asked General Godley yesterday to cable to you about this and at the same time ta" 1 cable about the increased New Zealand artillery required. "I do hope that these proposals will have your approval. The point on which T feel the greatest apprehension i is in involving you in the responsibility of keeping up drafts for this increased force. That you will do so if it is in any way possible I, of course, know well, but it is just possible that it may be beyond your means, which I know , are not inexhaustible, and which must be already strained. ! "I was so pleased to hear all you had ' to say about your Sth Reinforcements. \ 1 have not had time to see very much , of our troops since I have got buck here, ! as they are scattered. I saw all those in , and I am quite delighted with them. Turn out, appearance, keenness were all cv.'ellent, and 1 am ' quite certain they v,i" pr.-;rr- i'u-;r..=e!ves '■ fullv the equals of the men von sent out at first. ' l

"1 have to-day seen tlif Now Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade, including the Olagos. They were looking better tlian I have ever wen them before. Men and horses complete and in perfect health. Chaytor looks after theiu well." Referring to the suggestion that the formation of the new Brigade might mean an increase of Reinforcements. Mr. Allen told your correspondent that the formation of the Now Zealand Division would not involve any material addition to the number of men in each Reinforcement draft. The rate of reinforcements which had been increased to 20 per cent per month during the Gallipoli campaign, bad now been reduced again to the original 15 per cent,, and on that basis the formation of the additional infantry brigade would be balanced, but the proportion of infantry would be larger and the proportion of mounted men smaller in f'iture Reinforcements.