DEFENCE MATTERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8214, 11 August 1915, Page 2

DEFENCE MATTERS.

(From Our Wellington/ Correspondent.) Ministry of Munitions. The Minister for Munitions ai3.:l 'Supplies (the Hon. A. M. Myers) had I an-interview with the Minister for Dei fence (the Hon. James Allen) yesterday .for the purpose of discussing some of i the matters connected with the organiIsation of the new Department., The . Munitions Department and the Defence Department will be in close contact, ! though they will be under separate control and will work independently to a certain extent. The details have not yet Been arranged fully, but it is exjpected that the new Department will ibe in working order within the next .week or two, at most. ' "The Minister jin charge of the Munitions Department } will have control of military supplies," : said the Prime Minister yesterday, ■when mentioning this subject. "It will bo his particular duty to see that . equipment and supplies are ready for ! the men when they go into camp, withj out the delays that have occurred occasionally in the past." The National Register. The preparation of the national register, it is, stated officially, is not to be regarded as an indication that recruiting is not satisfactory at the present time, or that a change of system is contemplated in the near future. The Defence authorities have been getting the men as fast as they i can be handled, and there is no indication yet of a shortage, though the forJmation of the extra infantry..battalion lin October will make special-demands i-upon the .volunteer system. The regis- | tor is to be regarded as a precautionary 'measure. -It will show how many inezi there are in the country of militax-y age, what their occupations arej whether they have had military experij.ehcc, and what is ; their position in reIgard.to dependents. < ' -