RECRUITS FOR NATIONAL RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1916, Page 8

RECRUITS FOR NATIONAL RESERVE.

KO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, August 10. "Tlio Government of New Zealand hag no knowledge of any authority given to Captain Whitney, of Auckland, to enrol volunteers from t'lie mercantile marine for service with the motor-boat patrols in England,' l said the Minister for 'Defence (Hon. J. Allen) yesterday. He was referring to a paragraph published locally, to the effect that Captain Whitney was asking for the names of master who would be willing to leave for the Mother Country in the near future. . ''As a matter of fact," continued t'lie Minister, ''the New Zealand Government is in communication with the Imperial authorities regarding a cablegram from them to the effect that they are sending officers to this country in order to ascertain whether recruits car be obtained 'from t'lie Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for certain purposes. This cablegram wap in reply to a communication from New Zealand. The Government has communicated with the Imperial authorities quite recently stating that as far as the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is concerned we a'-'e quite willing to ascertain how many men could be furnished. "The Government requires first to lie supplied with information regard' t'iie conditions of enlistment and so .o. ~a in ordei that the matter may be placed before the men likely to volunteer. This information has wot yet come to hand, but so soon as it arrives the Government will act in the matter. The Government in the meantime 'has not delegated any power in connection with the jroposal." ============== j