IN NEW ZEALAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8215, 12 August 1915, Page 6

IN NEW ZEALAND.

CALL FOR MEN

12,000 MORE BY DECEMBER

'steady registration urged

APPEAL TO YOUNG, UNMARRIED • • MEN. ■ '

. WELLINGTON, August 11. The Imperial Government has accepted New Zealand's offer of two additional battalions. This morning the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, rectnred the following telegram •fiwrn the Governor, at Christchurch: —

" Army Council gratefully accepts offer of Government of New Zealand to send two additional infantry battalions, and heartily agree that they should bo trained in Dominion until February."

"Now that our offer is definitely accepted," said Mr Allen, "we shall provide at Featherston for another 1000 mon. \Wo had provided originally for 2500, b;;t we shall now take 3500 men there. In the two camps—Featherston and Trrmtham permanent camps—we shall tako 7500. The new battalions will go into camp when the 'Trents' leave, which will be about the middle of October."

"Will frash recruiting efforts be necessary?" the Minister was asked.

"We shall see," ho replied.- "The public may as well know that between now and December 14th aext we shall want to have in camp, in addition to what we have now, close on 12,000 men. Wo shall require that many actually to pass the medical test. By June of next yoar we shall want orer 22.000 mon to pass the medical officers, so you sso wo have our work cut out, especially as I havo given my positive Assurance both to General Birdwood and General Godloy that New Zealand will keep up its regular reinforcements to the main body, and for these separate battalions, 'the Trents,' and those we havo just agreed to send away. All wo want now is a steady registration of men without any undue oxcitpmpnt to supply these added responsibilities. But we don't want the men who register to leave their work until asked by tlm Defence authorities to do so. That is Now Zealand's policy and it- lias provod its value. We arc making this appeal especially to young, 'unmarried men, who have not already registered ,' to get on the register as soon as they can, and remain at their employment until we ask them to come out. The Eighth Reinforcements are ready to come into camp, and a certain number have registered for the Ninth. I do w^nt to call attention to what Genera] Godloy has written to me- — tfiat thp authorities are not so anxious about additional units as that a regular supply of reinforcements should be ■kept up. They want to feel thnt whatever may happen, the main body shall have all blanks filled."