CALL TO ARMS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 125, 28 May 1915, Page 8

CALL TO ARMS

RECRUITING ORGANISATION THE MINISTER'S STATEMENT A REPLY TO SUGGESTIONS. Suggestions have been made in various quarters, particularly in the Manawatu, that the establishment of auxiliary recruiting camps in various parts of the country to which men could be sent as soon as they enlisted, instead of having to wait until called upon to enter Trentham, would be desirable. To-day the Minister for Defence (the Hon. James Allen) made some remarks upon the matter to a Post reporter. "We have adopted a 6ystem of registration," said Mr. Allen, "and it has been working admirably. The registration system means that- the men who register their names are ready to give their services whenever they are called upon. They are advised, when signing the registration cards, that they are not meanwhile to leave their employment ; that they will get due notice when to go up for their medical examination, and when to go into camp. Any agitation that is created to upset this arrangement is against the beet interests of the country and against recruiting. It is obvious that the industries of the country should be carried on without any interference so long as the Department can assist this end, and to call men away from their employment before they are needed would only reduce the productive capacity of the country. Further, we have made our arrangements for training the men in camp, and have provided a staff for the purpose; and it would not only be inconvenient, but impolitic and unsatisfactory, and the instruction would be unsatisfactory, if we were to establish any other than the camp at Trentham. "I am aware that there are some men who will nob strictly obey orders, anad who give up their work in expectation that they can go immediately into camp. We can only take them in at definite periods, otherwise the organisation is all upset. Mr. Allen said that he would remind the country that in a few weeks we would have close on 7000 men in training, and that was a very big effort. He also w.anted to remind the country that they did nofc want the recruits all at. once. They had to look twelve months, or possibly two years, ahead for a continual supply every two months. He admired the spirit actuating the people, and especially those who were advocating this method at Palmerston, and appreciated also their great keenness ; but at the same time he was perfectly certain that tho organisation the Defence authorities had created was the best that could be devised under the circumstances. What was wanted was a continuous supply. "Wo did want a spurt to get a big lot of men in just now, but j as soon as that is over we want to get back to normal— a steady, continuous supply. The reason there is pressure now is that the demands have been so great to get the two extra battalions of, infantry ; but that is over now. We have' got the two battalions, and I have no doubt we shall get the 7th Eeinforcements for 12th June, as desired. I repeat that what we now want is steady recruiting, day by day, month by month, until the war ends, to make up the reinforcements to fill the gaps. And I. want this recruiting from the unmarried men as far as possible. 78 MORE MEN ENLIST Yesterday 19 more men enlisted at No. 5 Area Group for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, making 39 for the day. This number was equalled by this morning's enlistments. To-day's 59 registrations included five Maoris from Ohau desirous of serving with the Native Expeditionary Force, and two men enrolled through the National Reserve. The names and occupations of the men registered are as follow :—: — Stanley Naylor, mechanic, Masterton Wm. Frank Griffiths, porter, Lower Hntt James Dodwell, steward James E. Miller, engineer, Petone Joseph Hy. Packham, labourer Ulisse Robinson, traveller Chas. M'Kinnon, seaman ' Edwin James Brough, bush contractor, Omona, Eltham Norman Bennett, grocer James W. Wilson, labourer • Albert Marshall, clerk Lancelot Alfred Bush, salesman Albert George Mills, bank clerk Robert Watson, engineer, Petone William Aloyßius (Little, warehouseman Jas. Mathieson Wilson, indent agent George Aitken Duncan, miner Wm. Brunton Wilson, salesman Charles Henry Duck, mercer To-day's list is as follows: — Arthur Charles Brown, cook Fredk. Francis Marshall, clerk Warren Jas. Hicks, accountant Edward Harrison, labourer Jas. O'Brien fireman Ralph Thos. Ingram, ship's officer Cyril Campbell Waters, ship's officer Norman Henry Ellison Curtis, drover, Johnsonville John Joseph Samuel, railway employee, Taranaki Angus Gill M'Aulay, lithographer Alfred Henry Wekford, lithographer William Armstrong, storeman Fredk. E. G. Gapper. engineer Walter Stewart, city Richard W. Bohm, master mariner Wm. John Weaver, postal clerk Alexander Walker Muir, warehouseman. Arthur Sidman, printer Cameron Gordon Johnston, draftsman Arthur Fredk. Wilkins, hotel porter Hector Russell, farmer, Silveretream Eustace Fitzroy Haddon,' railway employee, Palmerston North ' Wm. Aldridge, labourer Pervical Whitman, farmer Charles James Leader, messenger Lothar Langvad, driver Alexander Charles Wisnoski, cleaner Ernest Harry Eason, engineer William Gilliland, athlete Willie Richmond, Opotiki William Walker, circus agent Herbert James, clerk, Tawa Flat For Maori Force. Whetu Wehipeihana, clerk, Ohau Taurua Wehipeihana, labourer, Ohan John Thomas Marino, private interpreter, Ohau. Robert Taru Ramsfield, labourer, Ohau Puke Perawiti, labourer, Ohau Registered through National Reserve. Percy Green, farm hand Charles Joseph Contessa, printer

At- an inquest yesterday concerning the sudden, death on Tuesday of Mrs. Ellen Hopkins, who resided at 33, Pipiteastreet, Dr. Gilme-r stated that the cause was Bright's disease and consequent heart failure. The Coroner (Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M.) returned a verdict accordingly. A notice to donors to the Wounded Soldiero Fund is advertised in this issue