RECRUITING.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15608, 5 June 1916, Page 9

RECRUITING.

LAST "WEEK'S FIGURES. A FALLING -OFF. Recruiting in Christchurcli last -week showed a big drop as compared with the previous week. but it- has ever been the experience of the recruiting authorities that for a few days after the despatch of a Reinforcement draft the number of enlistments falls off, and it is confidently anticipated that, as soon as the Canterbury quota, for the ISth Reinforcements and tho date of its mobilisation are announced the enlistments will bo a-s good, if not; Ix-tter, than they were i'or the two weeks previous to tho departure for camp of tho district's quota for the 17th Reinforcements. Last week 295 men registered for service in Christehurc-h—an average of 49.1, ns against 410, an averago or GS.3 tho previous week. One hundred men were, however, secured on the Monday (two jlai's before the departure for camp of the Christehurc-h quota, of tho 17th Reinforcements), so that the average for tho remaining days of the week was 39. Of the 295 men who registered for service last week, 49 wero married, 15 wero widowers, and 234- wero single, whilst 9 did not stato their condition. The daily figures were as follows:— Modnay ... ... 100 Tuesday ... ... 40 Wednesday ... ... 46 Thursday ' ... ... 28 Friday ... ... ... 43 Saturday ... ... 3S SATURDAY'S ENLISTMENTS.

Of the 3S men who enlisted on Saturday, 6 were married, 2 were widowers, aa£ 30 v.-tc single. Anions those who j registered were:— Arthur J. Pritchard, 35 Fairfield, avenue, clerk, single. Herbert Dawson, 30 Horatio street, labourer, widower. James L. Davie, 7 Draper street, Tlicbmoiid, surveyor, eingle. Percy Sampson, 511 "Worcester street, shop assistant, single. ' Edward D. xiaughfiy, c.o. Haywajd Bros., traveller, single. Georgo E. au'tk, 38 "Wellington street, caretaker, single. "William Law, 359 Worcester street, elcctroplater, single. "William E. Lewis, IS Clothier street, con- ; fcctioTier» single. Matthew Cos., IS "Walthiam road, carpenter, single. John H. Ibel!, Wools ton, labourer, single. 1 Len J. Turner, Wools ton, labourer, eingle. Harry Hcnsley, 152 Hazeldean road, driver, j married. "William G. Feron, 2G2 Antigua street, salesman, single. Robert G. Ritchie, c.o. G.P.0., journalist, single. Thomas Jenkins, Halton road, Papanui, d,river, married. Thomas G. Nankivcll, 10 Buckley's road, blacksmith, married. William Ilcron, Belfast, labourer, single. Francis Heron, .Belfast, farmer, married. James Kidd, 29G Manchester etre-ot, coach trimmer, single. Frederick Knight, 18 Clare road, labourer, married. Oswald M. Evans, Islington, -wool classer,' fiing'a. Montagu "Watson Gillmore, Y.M.C.A., Christchurch, clerk, single. Charles F. Argue, 46 Bamford street, Woolston. labourer, single. John H. Wetlierall, 26 Bridle Path road, single. Louis G. Rowlands, 7 Allen street, plumber, married. Joseph Diggs, Bromley, farm labourer, single. Arthur C. Winter, 25 Windsor terrace, clerk, single. Arthur E. Wish, c.o. Christchurch Meat Co., clerk, single. William Walter, G35 North road, labourer, single. John Aitchison, 70 Sawyer's Arms road, Papanui, butchcr, single. MEDICAL EXAMINATION.

Root. Howie', 47 Ely street, has attended hij mcdical examination. RECRUITING FACILITIES. TO THE EDITOR OF ''THE I'HESS." Sir, —In rcforcnce to the paragraph in this morning's "Press," headed "Recruiting," I must take exception to the remarks made therein. You stato that a large number of registrations were effected at tho C.D.C., it being impossible for *niany of the applicants for service to get near the counter at the new Recruiting Office. As for this statement, I might say tlyit the registrations at the C.D.C. and tho Recruiting Oflico were just about even for the day. No doubt this is accounted for by the fact of tho Recruiting Office having only just moved into their new premises, the position of ivhic-h most probably being unknown to a great number of intending recruits. Your statement as to cramped quarters is no doubt attributable to your reporter calling last evening during the hours for the is-sue of armlets. Considering that about eighty odd armlets were issued or exchanged. as avc'i as signing on a. number of recruits, in just a. little over two hours. I consider your remark that the cramped quarters do not allow of a man being attended to properly and promptly is uncalled for. Your reference to the attendance of a medical officer all day is again incorrect, as thero is no doubt that if a doctor were in attendance all day all congestion caused through the present system of mcdical examination being conducted between the hours of 3.30 and 3.30 and on Saturday evening between 7.30 and 8.30 would cease. as recruits could be signer! on and examined r.s they came in. Whatever premises the Recruiting Office occupied, it would still, unfortunately, be impossible to obviate the congestion during the hours armlets are issued. Under the new svstem, by which your reporters obtain the names of recruits, it might be possible for your reporters to arrange their time so as not to be worried bv these crowds.—Yours, ote.. PERCY "WYXX-YTILLIAMS. ' ■ June 3rd.