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MEN FOR THE ARMY

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER.

An interesting statement regarding tho mobilisation and training of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is contained in a letter from the Defence Minister, replying to a communication from Mr. W. H. Field, M.P.

The text of the Minister's letter follows :—

5"I have to reply to your letter of June 8, in which you deal with several mattors affecting the New Zealand Expeditionary l'orce Eeinforcements. Dealing seriatim with your letter, tho following are tho particulars: — - "(1) As previously pointed out, in order to fulfil our obligations to the Imperial authorities, it is necessary to send full drafts of men; which necessitate transfer of men from junior drafts to the senior drafts, thereby reducing the training period in New Zealand. Owing to the breakdown of the> voluntary system of recruiting, and tho enormous amount of work involved in setting; in motion the machinery for the working of the Military Service Act. it has been impossible to secure a regular and adequate supply of men either by volunteers or by tatlot, etc. The necessary machinery under the Military Service Act is now beginning to run smoothly, resulting, it is anticipated, in securing a regular supply of the required numbers per. month, further, owing to the difficulties in arranging sea transport, it is necessary that all available space on tho ships offering be utilised; otherwise tho Government would ]>e put to unnecessary extra expense, particularly in the case of hired liners. "(2) Tho Imperial authorities are not deceived in regard to the question of tho training of men nvlio havo been recently dispatched after a .short period in camp in New Zealand. With each draft a comprehensive report is forwarded to tho military 'authorities in tho United Kingdom, setting out clearly the period of training each man has performed in New Zealand, together with tho qualifications. On all occasions tho /ittention of the military authorities in the United Kingdom is specially drawn to tho short period of training performed by sony. of the men, and requesting that arrangements be made to continue their training on arrival at the base v iu order to thoroughly fit them before sending them to the firing lino. '"'(3) The allegation that many hundreds of men have been rejected for activo servico immediately on arrival- at the base is erroneous. Admitted there are a few, who, chiefly on account of their 'a»e, have been considered unsuitable for service in the Western front. The nnmf ber-of men in the latter category represents 1 per cent, of the total draft. The medical men"who constitute the Medical Boards in Now Zealand are selected from experienced practitioners in tho Dominion, and their opinion as to whether or not a man is fit for service is' tho best opinion available. "(i) If you will kindly- submit, either confidentially or otherwise, the names of the men whom you state are now in canip 'and who you consider would never stand the strain of trench warfare, immediate inquiry will'. ])e made, and, if necessary, they will, be subjected to a thorough medical- re-examination. "(5) A detailed and systematic sifting of the'eards of all men who have been drawn in the ballot, or who have been subjected to Clause 35 of the Military Service Act, is now in progress, and a completed return, it is anticipated, will bo available shortly, which -will clearly show how all inen who have been drawn •in the ballot or under Section 35 have been ..dealt with.

"(G) The question of non-registration of res'ervists is now in the hands of the Government Statistician, who is going into tho matter, and it is hoped that very shortly full information in this connection will bo available."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170710.2.50

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3132, 10 July 1917, Page 6

Word Count
620

MEN FOR THE ARMY Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3132, 10 July 1917, Page 6

MEN FOR THE ARMY Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3132, 10 July 1917, Page 6

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