CALL FOR MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1916, Page 4

CALL FOR MEN.

SHORTAGE IN THE FIFTEENTHS. THE RECRUITING SCHEME. VISIT OF COLONEL R. W. TATE. Colonel R. W. Tate, Commander of the Wellington miiltary district, was in New Plymouth yesterday, and he wa» engaged in '• Defence- matters throughout the day. Ho inspected the Defence Office, and later met the-Mayor" (Mr. C. If. Burgee) and tlio chairman of the Taranaki County Council (Mr. J. Brown) and discussed the recruiting scheme with them. Colonel Tate left for Hawera by the afternoon train. In conversation with a Daily News representative, Colonel Tate referred to the shortage in the Fifteenth Reinforcements, which is the most serious New Zealand has yet been confronted with, It was inevitable that there would be a shortage of men in the Dominion sooner or later, and now it had to be faced, All the groups in the Wellington military district have failed to supply their quotas this month, the position"* tot days ago being "as follows: Group. Shortage, No. 5 (Wellington) «....., 107 No. 6 (Manawatu) ... ; .pi..» 63 No. 7 (Hawke'g Bay) ...-s.vi 38 No. 7a (Wairarapa) <rw..' 24 No. 8 (Taranaki) ...gut.... 48 Total shortage .....■.-... 268 The whole of the shortage is in the infantry, and every intending recruit should enlist in that branch of the service if he desires to get away to the war this year. Men are urgently needed at once to All these gaps in the infantry. Discussing the shortages, Colonel Tate said there was first the fact that a lull in recruiting was inevitable sooner or later, but he thought one of the principal reasons was the changing from the original to the new recruiting scheme. The duty of enlisting recruits now retted on loca| bodies, and it was natural there would be a small supply of men until the public bodies set the new scheme on a proper working basis. "On the other hand," added Colonel Tate, "Auckland has this month supplied its quota, and although this fact may appear a. contradiction of my argument, I still believe that the change of systems has had an important influence on recruiting. This is the first time the Wellington district has not fulfilled its obligation!, and when the steady and persistent demand for men is remembered it Will be seen that we have a splendid record. As a matter of fact, we have done more than we were obliged to do, because for some 'time past the Wellington district lias sent drafts of men into'camp to make up shortages in other parts of New Zealand. If it had not been for this it is probable the Wellington district would not have been short this month.' The new scheme must be given a full trial and the support of the public is required. It is a mistaken idea that the military have to gather the recruits; it is for the people of the country to find the men. and then we will train them as soldiers."

Referring to recruiting in Xew Plymouth, Colonel Tate said he considered the Taranaki County Council was working in a systematic way whieli was likely to be productive of good results, and the Council'scnergy sup'plied a contrast to tlie attitude of many county.councils who were doing next to nothing. The Borough Council also appeared to be doing good work. The action of th» Taranaki Countly Council in employing returned soldiers as recruiting agents, had been watched with interest, anil It was satisfactory to observe that it had been a success, for the experiment tiiul not been tried anywhere else but In New ißlymouth. Colonel Tate was satisfied from what he gathered that the returned soldier is well suited for reeroitiug work in country districts.