THE CALL FOR MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1918, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN.

REFLECTED IN MILITARY APPEAL BOARDS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 1. ] The new call for men was reflected in the decisions of the Wellington Military Service Board to-day. Appeals made by the Commissioner of Stamps, the Wellington Education Board and the < N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., for the exemption of men regarded as essential, were dismissed, and the reservists concerned were ordered to enter camp next month. The military representative Baid he had to oppose exemptions unless the grounds were very strong indeed. It was more important that the thin khaki line on the West front should be supported ' than that persons or companies here should be saved from inconvenience, or even loss. The attitude of the board is in accordance with the present policy of the recruiting authorities. The boards are independent of military control, of course, but they have been informed that the call for men is at present very urgent. The assistance that New Zealand can give to the armies during the next six months depends upon the number of men that can be got into camp this month and next month. No limit has been set as to the strength of the May reinforcement. The mobilisation of the Wellington City section of the 41st Reinforcements was entirely orderly. The number of men called was 22fi, and of these 200 paraded at the specified hour, while some of the others accounted for themselves later. A small group of wives and parents watched the men enter the drill hall as their names were called. The roll was called, and the recruits, after they had been addressed by the group officer, were given leave until the evening. Trentham camp, which has had empty huts for months past owing to the reduction of reinforcements last year, is regaining activity, and by the end of the month it will contain more men than it has held for a long time. The camp authorities are pleased with the reports regarding the physique of the 41st draft. The inclusion of the first substantial batch of the Second Division men has raised the average age, and given the latest body of recruits a more mature appearance than was possessed by some recent drafts, which contained a bjg proportion of youths who had just attained military age.