SECOND DIVISION MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1917, Page 7

SECOND DIVISION MEN.

A WORD OF CAUTION*. Wellington, March 22. A word of comfort and counsels of cautiorf'were offered to Division 11. men 'ov Sir Jumps Allen in replying to a deputation of civil servants which waited upon him.

"I wish I .could set your minds at rest about Division IT." he said. "I knoiW there is a great deal of very natural anxiety among members of Division 11. Many of them are anxious to make preparations to do their part, and I don't want to say anything against that. It is right that men should be ready for what maj happen, but I do want to say to Division 11. men not to be hasty in any action they may take—and that applies especially to men 111 essential industries—because if they are hasty in making their preparations thisy may make sacrifices which may not be in their own interest or in the interest of the State, lor instance, a man who has a diii.-y farm may feel that he should sei' out—possibly at a sacrifice. I don't think he is called upon to do that, at any rate not now.

"We all hope that it will not be necessary to call upon Division 11. men at all. There will be no one happier about it than the Minister of Defence, I can assure you, if lie has never to call upon Division 11. men for service. At the same time, it is impossible for me or anybody else to say whether it will be possible for ns to come to x conclusion with our foes this summer. It is proper for us to look forward to another winter, and perhaps to another summer, ana if the war goes into another year Division 11. will certainly be called upon. As far as I can see now Division 11. will not be called upon for six months yet. I[ there are Division 11. men who are very anxious, I hope that they will remember that they cannot bt lu ought into the ballot for six months, and they ought to keep this in mind when they are considering what preparations they ought to make."