CALL FOR MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1916, Page 5

CALL FOR MEN.

URGENT APPEAL FROM THfl PREMIER TOO PEW INFANTRY. Wellington, April 9, "The return of men enlisted for tM 15th Reinforcements in all military districts, but more particularly in Allele-* and Wellington military, districts, show a very great excess of enlistments for all branches of the service other Jthaw infantry. I ask these men to stand by their fellow New Zealanders.; 'lO have already achieved imperii "jle , fame, and be prepared to do what their \, comrades already in camp have so cheerfully and willingly done, and offer their services where they are most needed. The need is urgent. If the enemy wins democracy will be destroyed for generations to come, and a black shadow thrown over the brightest spots of tke world. t

"I make an earnest direct appeal toi every man who is now registered in the over-full branches of the Rcrvicc to rise to the occasion, and show himself a man in deed as well as in intention, and place his services freely and at once at the disposal of the defence authorities. The opportunity and the privileges an still open to him, and to every other eligible eitizen of military age, to volun-. tary join with the flower of tile dominion's manhood, and fare fortH in this great and glorious adventure across ' the seas in defence of the liberty of the individual against the despotism of an unscrupulous and inhuman foe.' "The suggestion is made in different portions of the Dominion from time'to time that the Government is not setting a Rood example to private individuals and employers by its disinclination to release fit and eligible public servants from their duties tor service with the Expeditionary Forces, hut what is the real position? A return of the actual enlistments of members of the publlo service (exclusive of the employees of the Railwry Department), up to the3lst March last shows that 1668 public servants are now serving thejr King and country in the Expeditionary Foreei. The total number of public servants under the control of the Public Service Com'. missioners i s about 10,000, comprising men, women, and boys. It will tEu* . be seen that about one-sixth of the total strength of the public service has actually enlisted and gone on' active , service.

"In addition to the men who have baen. accepted there is a considerable number who have offered to serve but have been rejected as unable to comply with defence requirements, but the actual number is not at present' available. . The record of the employees, of the Railway Department is equally fine, particularly when it is remembered that the,authorities found it necessary to close down on further enlistments of railway servantg owing to the absolute need of retaining a. certain proportion of young active men to keep the train service* of the department running safely. "Out of a total strength of about 12,000 men no less than 1700 haveactually been granted leave to enlist f6r service with the forces, or about oneseventh of the whole. The total enlistments therefore from the combined «erfiees number 3388. T think it will be admitted- that the above figures of the> actual en'it,tments constitute a record of which the public service may well be proud, and it speaks volumes for the sense of duty and patriotism animating the eligible men in the employ of the State."

(Sgd.) W. F. MASSEY, Cliftirman, Recruiting - Board.