APPEAL FOR MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 231, 28 September 1915, Page 8

APPEAL FOR MEN.

DEFENCE MINISTER CONFIDENT. (By Telegraph.—T\-ess Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. TH* Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, stated to-night that he had no doubt the 6000 men required for the Ninth Reinforcements and the Ixo extra battalions would he ready to go into camp in the middle of October. Apparently, there would be a surplus in some branches to carry forward to the November draft*. The list of men passed for ttervice up to September 13 had e'.iown an infantry shortage of 639 men on the requirements for th* . Ninth Reinforcements and the extra battalions, bvit BS3 men had been awaiting medical examination at that time. The call now ««» for men for the Tent:i Reinforcements to go into camp early in November. Infantry and Mounted Infantry, especially, were wanted for tiiat force.

The Minister mentioned in connection .vith recruiting that he had been thinking of communicating with the National Reserve, the various Patriotic Societies, and the Mayors of citit* end boroughs, with a Tiew to securing their co-opera-tion in an appeal to the men. He did not want to overdo the matter at that stage, but men were wanted in large numbers. Tbe request of the Defence Department wag that the men would register and then remain in their employment until they were called up.