RECRUITING.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15449, 30 November 1915, Page 9

RECRUITING.

SHORTAGE OP INFANTRYMEN. THE PRESENT POSITION. Tho Canterbury quota of the Eleventh Reinforcements goes into camp in a little over a fortnight's time, and from all over the district come disquieting reports of big shortages in the Infantry. Nelson and Greymouth are having great difficulty in raising their drafts, the task set Kaiapoi seems to be absolutely beyond that district's powers, and Tim am is complaining about the lack of men coming forward. The position in Christchurch is very little, if any, better. Certainly the city wilt not be able to make up tho deficiencies in the country 'complements. One hundred infantry are required from the Christchurch district, and so far only thirty -two have been secured. The position in the case of the mounted branch is much better, only fourteen men being required to complete tho draft. About fifty men who have registered for this branch and the Infantry have been notified to attend their medical examination to-night, but i tho proportion of fit among these will by no means fill up the big gap which at present exists in the Infantry '-. draft. ! YESTERDAY'S ENLISTMENTS. | Twenty-eight men registered for sor- : vice in Christi.kuruh yesterday. Among : them were : — Clifford VVulUir Thomas, 11G King etrect, . Sydenham, brushmaker, Mounted. John EdwaTd Clark, Estuary load, F«dclifo, labourer. Kn?;neeiT>. Herbert Frank Stacey Drowitt, Whit© Hart Hotel. Christchurch. farmer, Infantry. Michaei John Wildormotb, 9 Braddon etrect. Christchurch, machinist, Samoan. Belief Force. William Henry Blake, Probbleton, labourer, Infantry. Jack Fornande.'., Caversham street, Ckristchurch, ehepherd. Mounted. fleece lUchard Jenkins Lloyd, 22 ShroTrsbury street, Mcrivale, salesman, InfantryFrederick Dempeey, 254 Oxford terrace, Christchurch, driver. Mounted. Charles, Henry William Lepper. 540 Herefoid street, Limvood, labourer, Mounted. David Chapman, 251 Oxford terrace, Christchurch. porter, Mounted. . Kdwa-rd Burleigh, 634 Colombo street, Christchurch, labourer. Infantry. Ernest Frank Pearcy. 40 Carlton street, St. Albans, etoTeruan, Mounted. William Robert Jennings. rSB2 Montreal stroot, Christchurch. Kaker,,. Infantry. Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan, IEO Madras street, Christchurch, labourer, Infantry. Selwyn Roy Gee, 83 Iluakin street, Christchurch, shepherd, Mounted Rifles. Alexander Robertson, 176 Western terrace, Fifih«Tton, seed prower, InfantryJohn William Burnip, 10 1/awrcnce street, Linwood, niorcman, Samoan Relief Force. James Woodland Bryant. 72 Bamford street, Woolnton, la-bourer, Samoan Relief Force. Ronald Dcug!a 9 Allan, 2-2 Avon street, Christchurch, farmer, Mounted. David Grubb, fiC London street, Lyttelton, shipwright. Artillery, George Frederick William Phillips, 74 Antigua, street, Sydenham, labourer, Mounted. "William Beadmore Parinell, 202 Rivojr read, Avouside. ironmonger, Mounted. Frc<kfcick Henry Gobbc, SG Gladstone street, Sydenham, painter, Infantry. Clifford Lee, 267 Colombo' street, Sydenham, labourer, Infantry, Robert Henry Le Comte, 62 Hozeldean. road, Chrietchurch. slaughterman. Mounted. Robert Gray, 160 Hereford street, Christchurch, fitter and storeman, Infantry. MEDICALLY EXAMINED. • The following have attended their medical examination: — T. W. Patterson, 211 Armagh etreet, Christchurch. B. 11. V. Harkiss, National Mortgage Co., Christchurch. ADDRESSES WANTED. The following have attended their medical examination, but the Defence authorities do not possess their addresses. They are, therefore, asked to report at tho Defence Area office, King Edward Barracks. Frank Austin. vi illiam Stokes. THE AGE LIMIT. It is understood that there is a movement on foot in Christchurch to urge tho Government to extend the present maximum military age for service at the front. It is claimed that if the age were extended, the services of several local enthusiasts, perfectly fit, would be secured. MEETING ATRANGIORA. ADDRESSES BY THE HON DR. McNAB AND CAPTAIN SIM3ON. Tho Institute Hall, Rangiora, was well filled last night, when the Hon. Dr. McNab and Captain Donald Simson made an appeal to the people of the district for recruits. The Mayor (Mr C. I. Jennings) presided, and referred to the slackness of recruiting in Rangiora. The first speaker was Captain Simson. "I am not going to slang you this evening, as I did on tho racecourse," he eaid, "but they deserved it, everyone of them. I tell you you don't know there is a war on. I am going to try to bring home to you tho fact that the Germans are beating us, and beating us all along the line. It is only our Navy which is keeping us free. The only way to bring tho fact home to the people of New Zealand is to curtail their liberty. I am going to advocate up and down the land tho curtailment or that great evil, racing. As long as I can mount a platform. I am going to fight the amount of racing which is going on here. I am not a spoil-sport, but I am right up against the man on the bank, the looker-on. I am also going to fight for tho early closing of the hotels and bare. I am not inferring that Now Zealanders arc excessive drinkers. I have never met a more sober crowd tlian the New Zealand soldiers. You must closo up your | bars at 8 ©"clock in the evening. Send the voung men home to grouse over their troubles; then and not till then, will they realise that the war is in progress." ~ ..,,. The Hon. Dr. McNab said:— YVe want 2000 men every six weeks, tor how long we do not >r.ow. I sincerely hope that tho war will not end tor at least twelve months, not until the German armies have been driven back far bevond her own boundaries. Back from Belgium, Alsace-Lorraine, Constantinople, back to the banks of the Rhine. "vv'o will win. Not from anything that has already happened do 1 arrive at this conclusion ; but from the knowledge which I have of -the men of this and the other colonics. They will come on irresistibly." Referring to Captain Simson's remarks about race-goers at this timo, Dt. McNab said: "I feel that he could not have included me in his sweeping statement. I only go on to a racecourse when there is a chance to win » vote before an election. If nothing else. I am frank." "I call no man a shirker —not yet. It is only a question of the men making up their minds. The men who are-go-ing now are -probably just as good men as those who went with the first -Expeditionary Force, who have made history which will live for all time, and who bfevo taken* part in Rome of the most glorious actions of the whole war." The speaker ppeke of a whisper which Lad reached him to the- effect that a <rertain section of the farming community were "up against" him. They y.ere afraid for the gathering cf tho crops. "If necessary, it would be justifiable to let the crops rot in the fields-

means alono will the war verdict bo ours. We have had 40,000 men, and wo have got 100,000 moro to draw from." Dr. McNab then explained that tHo men who enlist now, and who were not wanted for the draft which will go into camp on December 16th. would not bo sent into camp until after the Christmas and Ne-tv lear holidays. A very hearty vote of thanks "to tho speakers was carried by acclamation. Musical items were given l>r Miss Roso Horrell and Lieu-tenant C.*E. Bell.

NOT A SINGLE EXCUSE

RETURNED .SOLDIERS VIEW OP

SHIRKERS

PUBLIC SERVICE SMOKE

CONCERT

A complimentary smoke concert to returned soldiers, members of tho Public Service, was held last night at Freeman's Cafe. Mr L. B. Jordan presided over a large attendance, and Lieut. A. N. Oakey and Private Glover, of the Main New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and Private McGill, of the Samoan Expeditionary Force, were present. Lieut. Oakey took advantage the occasion to state that ho could find no reason for young single men without tiei to fail to enlist for active service. In proposing the toast of "Our Guests,'' coupled* with the names of Lieut. A. N. Oakcv, Sergeant Cornwell, and Privates hhell, (Mover, and •McGill. .Mr T. A. H. Bailey said the colonial soldier secured his chance in the Boor war, and lie made his reputation. Ho got a bigger and better chauco in the present war, and had improved upon that reputation. Mr Bailey urged all men of military age, who could s>ee their way to volunteer for active service, to do so. Lieut. Oakey, in replv, said that whatever the Main Body of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force were when they left New Zealand, after five months* training in Egypt thev were excelled by no troops in the "world. (Applause.) It was always, a most inspiring sight to see the Inf an try marching into eamp, one that the Mounteds never failed to look forward to. Hero in New Zealand people hardly realised that a war was on, hut if thev saw tho activities in Alexandria, they would quickly realise it. "J have been trying very hard,'' declared Lieut. Oakey, 'to find a single excuse for any singlo young mail not to volunteer for active service, and I cannot hud it. and I think that if moro of tho young men °/ .-f. eH " Zealand, particularly of tho 1 übhc Service—l am not mincing matters—were to enlist, they would appreciate New Zealand as l\lid. It taught mo a lesson. You don't appreciate New Zealand until you leave it." Private McGill said 80 per cent, of the Samoan Expeditionary Force had left for Gallipoli, "and pleaso God I am going myself—at least I hope t«." (Applause.) Other toasts honoured during tho evening wero 'The King," proposed bv the chairman: "Tbo Armv, Navv, and Volunteers," proposed by Mr t. Robertson, and responded to by Messrs L. Birks and A. H. Holmes; "Absent Comrades and Friend-." proposed by Mr T. G. Kendall; "Kindred Associations, responded to bv Mr A. J Talbot. "The Ladies'' and "Tho Press." Vocal and musical items were contri- •? nt ™., V Messrs G. Russell. J. Cocks, A. Millar. D. Russell, Webb and Jones and tho Banjo Band