THE FIFTEENTHS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1916, Page 8

THE FIFTEENTHS.

GET THE MEX! • (From Our Own Correspondent.)' Wellington, April 7. The figures at present available indicate that the 15th Reinforcements are going into camp nearly 500 men short of their proper strength. The shortage is confined to the infantry. The district shortages are stated this evening to be approximately as follow:—Auckland 74, Wellington -2110, Canterbury 81, Otago SS. The West Coast section of ,the Canterbury draft has still to come into camp. The districts are being asked to provide men to cover their shortages before Friday of next week, and the Defence authorities state that they expect to receive a very large proportion of the men by that date. But these continued shortages appear to be a clear reply to those people who state that there is no need for any measure of compulsion. It has to be remembered that the .training period is all to short already, and that men who arrive late in cainp will not be ready to take their places at the front at the required dates. But for the existence of the reserve the situation would be grave indeed. An interesting feature of the figures is -that Wellington City and Christeluireh City were responsible for big shortages, while Auckland provided (10 or 70 men above her quota. Auckland's recruiting scheme does not comply with the requirements of the Recruiting Board at all. It makes no 'provision for a personal canvass or the compilation of a roll, and depends entirely upon a vigorous publicity campaign and much platform work. But it is getting the men, and that is the main point at the present time.

Wellington's record this month is particularly bad, but it may be mentioned in explanation that all last year Wellington City was 'drawn upon for men to make up shortages in drafts from other district*, particularly from the South Island. When ten or twenty men were required at Trentham to fill vacancies, Wellington used to fill them almost invariably. Defence headquarters states that during the last six months 1506

men have been sent into camp from Xo. 5 Area. Group (Wellington city and suburbs). This number is well ahead of the quota.