RECRUITING.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15724, 18 October 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING.

TWENTY-SECOND

REINFORCEMENTS.

THE DOMINION SHORTAGE

A SERIOUS POSITION

(SPECUX TO "THE PBESS.")

WELLINGTON, October 17

New Zealand is faced with tho prospect of a very substantial shortage for the 22nd Reinforcements which are being mobilised this week. To supply the 22nd draft and make up past shortages a total of 2326 men were required; on Saturday last there were only 1607 recruits sworn in throughout New Zealand for the 22nct draft, leaving an apparent shortago of 1219. The mobilisation of tho I:2nd draft, however, will not bo completed until the end of the present week, and that being eo it is expected that by that time the present shortage will be reduced by about 200. If this anticipation proves" correct the Dominion will then be faced with the task of making up a shortage of from 900 to 1000 iren.

The position can only be pronounced as serious, and if the voluntary system is to be maintained it is evident that vigorous measures must be taken to impress upon eligible men of military ago their responsibilities. Such men are notified that their services are urgently needed. They are asked once more to turn up at the recruiting; offices and iill up the vacancies which are waiting for them. The quota from No. o group (Wellington City and Suburbs) was sent into camp this morning. The group had been f.sked to supply 240 men for tho 22nd Reinforcements, and to make up past shortages, but only sent in IG7, leaving a r-hortago of 73. Twelve men who had signed on for the 22nds, and had been sworn in and received a /lay's pay. failed to parade, and will doubtless be hunted up by the police later on.

THE CANTERBURY QUOTA.

JUST OVER HALF-STREXGTH

Progress reports received by tiie Canterbury district headquarters office yesterday afternoon rcvoal a serious shortage in the Canterbury quota for the 22nd Reinforcements, which aro now baing mobilised. The deficiency up till yesterday was no less than 296, not much less than ljnlf of the quota required. For all arms of the service 699 men were required and so far only 403 have been secured. Every group area in the district reports a shortage. The following table illustrates the position :—

Area Group. Quota. Secured. Sht'ge. Christchurch 266 147 119 S. Canterbury 140 100 40 N Canterbury 82 36 .46 Nelson 109 70 39 West Coa6t ... 102 50 52 Total ... 699 403 296 In addition the group areas have been called upon to provide non-com-missioned officers for future reinforcements. The Xorth Canterbury and Nejsou men left for Wellington last evening, the Christchurch aud South Canterbury go to-night, whilst tho West Coast contingent in camp on Satuiday. The Christchurch draft will parade at the King Edward Barracks at six o'clock to-night, and subsequently board a special train at 7.45. On this train will also be tho South Canterbury men.

It Tyas in October,, lplo, that recruiting Inst broke down iji Canterbury, and continued in this unfortunate state until we}]\ aftpr Christmas. It not until the- approach of winter and the throat of conscription was made that it picked up again. North Canterbury, however, has, up to the present, maintained an excellent record, and n °t since the mobilisation of the Tenth Tieniforcements until the jnobilisatiou of the Twenty-second Reinforcements this month has the northern district reported a shortage. This time, however, the slujup has been a heavy one, less than half the draft required being raised, apd then one member of the 36, despite the fact that ho • was attested. "failed to answer the roll-call at the King Edward Barracks last night. It is stated that there are plenty of eligible men still in the district, hut it is feared that the resources of voluntaryism are exhausted, tho same as in other [/roup areas in Canterbury: It is believed that action has already beep taken ,by the authorities to call upmerabersof shirking families in Canterbury, but it is pointed out that this remedy will not fill up the big deficiencies existing, and that possibly only the wider application of general conscription will provide the remedy. In farewelling the North Canterbury draft of the Twenty-second Reinforcements last night; Colonel Chaffey. officer commanding the district, expressed his disappointment at the small number of men comprising the draft, though, of course, as he pointed out, this was not the fault of the men hp was addressing. "More and still more men are required." he sajd. "and wo have got to see this war riabt through." The draft left for "Wejlincton under charge of Sergeant-Maior W. O. Stewart, and were escorted from the King Edward Barracks to the ChrlFtrlVirch r nilway "tfltinn bv the Cadet Buglo Band. Folio-wing are the names of tho men comnrisins tho contingent, together with N.C.O.'s for future reinforcements :—

Percy J. Benbow, Albert V. Buckley, "William H. Browse, Robert Pohepty, George Douglass, Tbomna Dunloa> John Edward Edwarus, Norm A. Gardiner, Gilbert Gordon, Ales. E. Gunn, Thomas A. Harrison Cyril Si Hickman, William H. Hunter. Hector G. Hubbard, George Isle, Campbell Iverach, Harry jfci. Jarman, Robert D. Kelly, Edward D. Miller, Robart Milne, Eric W. J. Millton, Richard Morgan, Campbell M» Caueland, Robert A. A. McGregor, William J. JlcKinnon, William J. Niven. Jesse W. Payne. Francis N. Pickering, Percy H. Prcstney, Jamce H. Ragg, Charles F. Ilea, Clive P Roes". Rid'ar' Fcttr.**' E. Teppett, John R. Tuxley, Thomas F. Ward, George E. Wctherell. AUCKLAND CITY 100 SHORT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAiTD, October 17. The Twenty-second Reinforcements left, for camp to-day. The Auckland City group was 100 short. YESTERDAY'S ENLISTMENTS. Seventeen men registered in Ohristchurch yesterday for active Bcrvic©, comprising S married and 0 single. Among (.hem were Thomcs W. Hartley, Trocadero Hotel, Chriatchurch, carpenter, a ingle. Ernest T. Chitty, 01 Wiagfield avenue, Sumner, electrician, married. Ernest G. Ellis, 11 Sutherland's road, Hillmorton, Sunnyaide Hospital attendant, Maurice Parry, 10 Allen street, cliuroh, labourer, single. Alfred E. Smith, 13 Perth street, Richmopd, drover, single. Albert A. Smith, c.o. People a Palace, Christ-church, farm labourer, single. John L. Wilson, 28a, Cunningham terraoe, Lyttelton, mariner, married. OjTil W. Wallas, 1023 Colombo street, ploughman, single. William A. HaroJd, 425 Bealey avenue, tailor, married. Gordon W. llpnntford, 16 Albemarle street, Sydenham, on ear boiler, married. James Moore, Salvation Army Homo, AddiugtoQ, labourer, maxnod. George W. Payne, S3 Wilmer etreot, Christchurch, electrician, single. Thomao W. Wood, 70 JBealey avenue, carrier, single. Ther<j will be no medical examination at the Chriatchurch Recnating Office to-day.