30,000 MEN WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 309, 29 December 1915, Page 6

30,000 MEN WANTED.

IN THE COMING YEAR. 42,000 RECRUITED TO DATE, AUCKLAND'S SHARE FOR 1916. 623 MEN EVERY MONTH. A BIG PROBLEM. Since the outbreak of war New Zealand has recruited 42,092 men for active service. This includes 30,700 who have gone to the aid of the Empire overseas, 5,300 who are on the eve of sailing, and 4,800 others who are going through the prescribed period of training before leaving for service abroad. The record of the past year must be, generally speak-1 ing, regarded as highly satisfactory. Our actual contributions have been as follows:— Sumo.m Expedition 1419 Main Body 771 jj Hr.st Keinfonements 7;jß SecoiKl Reinforcements 1074 Third Reinforcements 11V2 Fourth Reinforcements 2261 Fifth Reinforcements 2359 Siith Reinforcements :>440 Samoan Relief Force (iOO Maori Contingent 518 -Maori Reinforcements 330 , Seventh Reinforcements 2200' Two Uiflc Battalions 2300 Eighth Reinforcements 8000 Ninth Reinforcements 3100 1 Two Extra Hattallons „. 2200 ' Tenth Reinforcements 2400 TunuellJng Corps 450, Eleventh Reinforcements 2400 Total for year 42,692 But wliilc there is reason for satisfaction regarding the Dominion's response during the past year, the real problem, has to be faced during the year ahead. In order that we may keep our Expeditionary Force up to full strength there is need for steady reinforcements, and it is essential that we send away every four weeks not less than 2,200 men. In fact, it is expected that we will send abroad during the coming year not less than 30,000 new troops. The Dominion has a population of 1,110,393, and the number of men of military age totals 205,013. Of this number, 109,083 have expressed their willingness to join the forces, but 33,127 only are single men without dependents, and of that totnl probably 25 per cent would fail to pass the medical examinations. In addition, the national census shows that there are 34.350 men unwilling to serve in any capacity at all, either civil or military, and the census further indicates that of the Dominion's male population, 8,390 single men without dependents refuse to serve in any capacity at all, and 8,448 in a civil capacity only, making a total of 16,838 single men, without ties, who refuse to go into the fighting-line. The census, moreover, shows the position in the four military districts to be as follows:— Men of Military Age. Percentage. Wellington 70,108 33 8 Auckland 50.3)8 ~7 0 Canterbury 45..-10.-, 03:'•> ° ta t'° 33.3K; loio To ' a ' 208,513 ( K lf '„' ! " rinff the oomin i? year, therefore, the nonunion has to find another 30 000 men, and the district quotas arc called up on a population basis, Auckland's share will be 8,100. Reinforcements go mto camp every month, and 023 men in this district will have to come forward] every four weeks in order that we may keep up our share on a population basis. In fact, 023 is but a modest estimate, it past experience goes for anything, fori there has not been a single reinforcement, quota called up without Auckland having to contribute on the aveiage well over 100 men per quota wherewith to lill southern gaps. If this policy is to be pursued in the future, Auckland's resources are likely to be somewhat severely taxed. Cabinet seems to place considerable faith in the possibilities of success with the new Recruiting Hoards, which will operate in each district, but Otago and Canterbury have both had in existence for many months influential recruiting committees without achieving any noticeable success. In fact, the Dunedin Citizens' Patriotic Committeo, after conducting recruiting campaigns throughout the district, reported in favour of compulsion as the only solution of the probiem. Meantime, however, the public will gladly give the new recruiting scheme all the assistance possible. The position is likely to be relieved, tn the north at any rate, after the holiday season, and it is expected that the January and February quotas will be made up without tho slightest difficulty. The same activity will possibly be recorded in the south for the first few weeks in the New Year. But it is obvious that during the ensuing twelve months 30,000 men who have not yet enlisted must make up their minds to go on active service. It is remarkable that by the end of the year, if the programme intended is carried out, New Zealand will have sent to the front an army nearly equivalent in numbers to that of 80,000, which formed Britain's fighting force in the battle of Mons.