IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15463, 16 December 1915, Page 8

IN AUSTRALIA.

THE NEW ARMY. ORGANISING THE RECRUITING SCHEME. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyxisbt.) MELBOURNE, December 15. Tho letters of appeal and the attestation forms for the new recruiting campaign are now available, and the groui d work of the scheme has been accomplished. The organisers are confident of success. The military authorities in addition to stiffening the medical tests propose holding monthly medical examinations in the training camps in order that fewer men will bo returned from Egvpt lis unfit. PERSONAL APPEAL BY MK HUGHES. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. (Received December lGth, 1.0 a.m.) MELBOURNE. December 15. , Mr Hughes, in making .a personal appeal for. 50,000 troops, said: —"Six thousand meri a month are required for reinforcements. Had tho number of our forces been doubled, the armies of Australia and New Zealand would long ago have been camping at Constantinople, and tho war would have' been practically over.*' EQUIPPING THE TROOPS. WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. MELBOURNE, December 15. i The Defence Department states that Australian manufacturers are able to turn out full supplies of infantry equipment. Tho Department has designed and produced a purely Australian equipment, of which IS,GOO- sets have heen issued. These have proved so satisfactory that a further 100,000 sets have been ordered. Twenty-five per cent. of tho rifles issued to tho Expeditionary Force were manufactured at tho Lithgow -works, where the manufacture of maeTiino-guns will also shortly be undertaken. Since the war broke out 31,627 horses have been obtained. 28.988 being purchased at a cost of j £550,968, the remaining 2639 being B resented to the forces; 24,270 horses ave been sent with tho forces; #2500 vehicles, 10,000 sets of harness, and 15,000 sets of saddlery have also been provided. TAXATION MEASURES. INCOMES, MOTORS, AND BOOKMAKERS AFFECTED. (Received December 16th, 1.5 a.m.) SYD.VEY, December 15. In the Assembly, Mr Holman introduced- measures re-imposing a supertax of threepence in the £ on incomes, and taxes on motor-cars and bookmakers. Tho Bills have passed the Committee stages.