RECRUITING PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1916, Page 4

RECRUITING PROPOSALS.

STATEMENT FROM ME. MASSEY. By Telegrapn.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. Hon, .Tgs. Alien (Minister of Defence) slated to a reporter to-day that certain proposal regarding recruiting are to be submitted to Cabinet to-morrov. "The roils for the first division are so far advancer, now," said the Minister, "that the Depot can ascertain approximately tile number of men in division one in each group, and we hope to be r.li'.c to call in the 23rd Reinforcement? on the readjusted quotas to be issued tomorrow. For the 23rd Reinforcements 101 a nave attested, and we are hoping to get through, per medium of Section 3,' i, 500 men in time for the 23rd?., and wo want about another 1100. They have got from now till Novemhci l)th to complete the 23rd Reinforcements. Instructions have gone out to all group officers to have a special recruiting time throughout their groups, and we are calling upon all Recruiting Committees to do all they can to brinj' in voluntary recruits up to November lltli., because we are, not in a position to apply the compulsory clauses i..f the Act immediately. I do expect, however, to be in a position to appiy those clauses for the 2ith Reinforcements, if required.", "Several newspapers," continue, 1 the Minister for Uefen.ce, "have been reporting Mr. Massey as having stated at Home that the New Zoalnndci don't want to force men to fight side by side with volunteers. I felt that the statement was so contrary to Mr. Massey'a views as expressed to me that l telegraphed him what the newspapers had reported him to have said on October 25th. Mr. Massey replied: ''Press report referred to incorrect. Said nothing which would bear the construction placed upon it in your telegram. What I said was that up to the present it had not yet been necessary to enforce the Military Service Act. but that it would go into operation automatically x-.ien required. No mention was made of New Zealand not wanting forced men to fight side by side with those enrolled under voluntaryism."