RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 6

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

ACTIVE CANVASS TO COMMENCE TO-NIGHT AT TOWN HALL So far it lias not boon, necessary in ! Wellington for tlio civilian authorities j to tako any active part in tlio securing! , of recruits for our Reinforcements,- but j tlio timo lias now arrived when more ] meii are urgently required to fill up tlio ■ ranks of the sactly depleted' forces that : have gono forward and faced _the grim ' war music. The situation is a now : ono to New Zealand—to almost everyone living here—but it is one which has to bo-faced all over the Empire if "we, : nationally, are not "to.bito tho dust." : So to-night tho Mayor and some en- : thusiastic citizens are to inaugurate a . lively recruiting campaign, and if many young fellows do not hear-the call, tliey must bo very deaf indeed.- • Infantry Wanted. The Mayor said yesterday ,that : there was no mistake about the urgency_ of tho call —it was, indeed, one of critical importance. " Ho had been'informed "by tho Minister of Defence that there wero quite a number of young men willing and anxious to go awav with the artillery, and other branches of i the service, but there was a very serious slacking off in tho infantry section, and lie was making a special appeal to thoso men who had already registered as willing to go and serve in the former branches to transfer tlieir preference! to the 'infantry. He had been to tho trouble of ascertaining their names, and was. sending each' a copy of the following circular-letter:— ■ _- "Dear Sir,—ln communicating with tho Executive officials of tlie I " Defence Department to ascertain. : what'assistance 1 could render tlio . authorities'in'the matter of recruit- . ing, I was informed that any help . that I. could extend in the campaign/would be. very much appreci-. t ■ ated; .- v "In furtherance of that object, it has been arranged that medical and examining officers shall be in, attendance at the - Town Hall- on Saturday, ..and. every 'week-day to enrol and examine . mfeiding recruits. _ , "I,have been advised by-the Do-, • , .fenco officials that, a matter of great'; concern to them is tlio shortage of men enlisting for the infantry—the '. Artillery, Engineers, Army Service, .. and.Ainbulauco Corps) and other branches, are already filled, and H is highly desirable that those who •have enlisted for these filled branches, instead of waiting .to'be ' ; called iup for a later Reinforcement, 'should , altor. their preference and- :. agree to accept service, with the ■ infantry. May lat this groat crisis . .which the Empire is parsing'through ; stress : upon. you the urgent aeces-' sity.ior the men of . New Zealand to rally. l round their comrades at Gal-"-.. lipoli,'.and:l app.eal to you to rev consider, your -decision and ask you ■ to accept' servioe with the branch which is short in. its quota, viz., the Infantry. • '■•;' '. ■ . "My-suggestions aro made; with , , the. sole purpose of furthering l our>: .. national cause, and I trust you will ..' view them in tho same lfglit. 1 Thanking you -in , anticipation.— l <. Yours faithfully (Signed) John 'P. Luke, Mayor of-Wellington." ' \ ■ To-night's Arrangements. The arrangements for to-night's cam-, paign* are. well forward. A brass''band.; will .play . outside 'the .Town Hall' on the; .corner of Lower. Cuba: Street and Wake.field Street, and recruiting speeches l will be niado by tho local members of Parliament, and Mr.. T. -M; -AVilford,' member for the IluVt, from'temporary . hustings on that' corner i (the. big Town Hall being otherwise -engaged). Some.' five recruiting posters designed' by Mr.'' :Gi P. Hanna (who is off to. th6 : ffont': shortly) will bo shown, and a lively; time'ie anticipated. : In order to enrol recruits 'find, examine them .there and then,; a . Defencc Department's, official and a medical officer will be in attendance, in No.' 2 Committee Room of the Town Hall. . , ' GOOD RESPONSE AT AUCKLAND . Bjf Telegraph.—Press Association.' . ' ' Auckland, October 8. Thore has..Jipnii 'a;..'good response-to the recruiting campaign, in' Auckland. Of 178 volunteers to-day 'only three were rejected. ■ . :