MORE MEN APPEAL

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1918, Page 8

MORE MEN APPEAL

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY

MOBILISING PUT FOR WARD.

A TANK FORCE REQUIRED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House ot' Representatives tonight, Jlr. Alassey said he desired to make a statement as to what (lie Governnu'ut proposed to do in view of the position which had arisen :>n the Western front, jyid in view of the appeal which had been made to the Dominion by the Premier of Britain, Jlr. Lloyd George. On receipt, ot that appeal action was immediately taken by the Government, it being decided that the date of the departure of two contingents of ( thoroughly-trained men should be ad-' ranccd, one by one week and flie other bv three weeks. Putting the departure' of these drafts forward necessarily' meant that other drafts would have to go into eamp at an earlier date than was intended. Class A of the Second Division must also be mobilised earlier than was the Government's intention. A supplementary message had also been sent to each (Dominion by Mr. Lloyd George for their Governments' confidential information. The contents of this message he, of course, could not disclose, but it had greatly impressed the Governmeut as to the need for immediate aid. Cabinet had asked the Home authorities as to the increased number of reinforcements required, but to this request a reply had not yet been received, though It was expected at any moment. One of the Imperial Government's requests was for a tank battalion. This would probably be 700 strong, who would lie taken from the reserves in England, but the new force would have (o he reinforced at the rate nf fifty men per month. The speeding up ot the reinforcements means that men of the 41st draft, which would be normally due to be mobilised between Jlay 2S and dune 1, have now received orders to parade during the week from April .'!() to Jlay 4. Similarly the dates for the -I:2nd draft had been brought forward from June 2.1-2!) to Jlay 21 --25.

THE SEC'OKD DIVISION. Consequently (lie balloting for Class B fif the Second Division will begin before (he time originally planned. The Gazette due to be published on April 23 ivould have contained in normal circumstances only the accretions to the First Division and Class A of (lie Second Division. By the new scheme it will publish (lie names of the first ballot of Class B (married men with one child). This balloting. which would be speeded up by rtbout two months, will begin probably next Jfonday. This balloting has been hastened to enable the Defence authorises to give the promised not.icp of three months between the date of medical examination and the dale of mobilisation.

REINFORCEMENTS TO CE INCREASED. Giving Jiin persona] opinion, Mr. Massoy said lie was satisfied (lip reinforce-mi-uls would have to be increased, and the Government had expressed its willingness to do so. He was not pessimistic, but lie did not think anyone who had read the speech delivered in the Howe of Commons by Mr. Lloyd George, which appeared in that morning's papers, hut must be convinced (hut, the fate of the Empire was trembling ;>, f], e balance nt the present moment, lie thought we would pull through, but the position was no doubt critical, and be agreed with Mr. Asqiiit.il that, there was no .sacrifice that, the Empire should not he willin" to make-

MAN POWER BEFORE PRODUCTION. Many people said we should concentrate our attention upon product ion; hut while admitting tlip importance of producing, he declared the supply of man power should be our first consideration. -More drastic combing out might be necessary. ITe was of opinion thorp were still many single men of military ago in the Dominion who had not been called up. Hon. Member': Thousands!

Mr. Massey, continuing, said hp would not go as far as that, but there was no doubt a good many, and they must be found.

WAYS OP 1 OBTAINING MORE .MEN. We might have to increase the military age. as had been done in Britain. Tie was also of opinion that we might have to shut down all non-essential industries. '

A Member: Shut down racing! Mr. Massey said we mislif. vet have to do many things which hail not been done in the past. We must put every ounce of strength into the struggle. Tlie Government would d<* its duty, and not hesitate to ask Parliament to make anv sacrifice necessary.

ACTIVITY OF PEI-ENOK DEPARTMENT.

The Minister of Defence said that in order to nrr<- out the arrangements outlined lit the Premier it would lie liccessarr to hold a ballot o.i the 23rd 1 n«t-. in which ahont 5000 would lie drawn. Efforts were being made l>v the Defence Deportment to discover all eligible*. Out, of O.iSO eligible who had no) Answered (lie call Pflfjfi had heen nceouiifcd for. which he thought, was evidence that the Director e f P.ecruitill" and the Director of Personal Services had heen doing excellent work.

DRASTIC COMBINf! OUT t'RC.ED. I 111 the discussion which followed members contended that even more drastic (tombing out must he enforced, and that the police were not vigilant enough in defecting deserters. In reply. Ministers contended 1 lint combing out was being enforced, and that so far as the legal position allowed the police were doing all in their (power to arrest deserters.

Jn replv to questions, the Minister of Defence declared no rich-men had been exempted unfairly by -the Military Service Boards, which were thoroughly fair. SeTOrnl cases quoted by members he [promi-cd to inquire into. The j'fnn. CI. W. Russell -aid it- was miit" riTlit tin l Governnic-' should comb out public departments before they angjlgu? J9. make *imi-

lar sacrifices. Tie quoted figures to showthat not a single man fit for military service m s remaining in public departments under his charge.

The discussion proceeded on general line* until 1.10, when, the House rose till 7 30.