CALL TO ARMS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 6

CALL TO ARMS

TO-NIGHT'S MEETING More men are wanted for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and tonight the Mayor '(Mr. J. P. Luke), with the help of some enthusiastic citizens, will start a recruiting campaign, which is designed to appeal to the patriotism of all who hear or read. The call, says the Mayor, is indeed one of critical urgency. He has been informed by the Minister of Defence that there is a very serious slacking off in the infantry section, and he urged those who had registered as willing to serve in tho artillery and other branches of the service to transfer their affections to the infantry. He had taken the trouble to ascertain the names of all those to whom he had referred, and had sent them a circular, of which the following is an extract:— "l have been advised by the Defence officials that a matter of great concern to them is the shortage of men enlisting for the infantry — the Artillery, Engineers, Army Service, and Ambulance Corps, and other branches, are already filled, and it is highly desirable that those who have enlisted for these filled branches, instead of waiting to be called up for a later Reinforcement, should alter their preference and agree to accept service with the infantry. May I at this great crisis which the Empire is passing through stress upon you the urgent necessity for the men of New Zealand to rally round their comrades at Gallipoli, and I appeal to you to reconsider your decision and ask you to accept servics with the branch which is short in its quota, viz., the infantry." Outside the Town Hall to-night a band will play and recruiting speeches will be delivered, and a Defence Department official and a medical officer will be in attendance at No. 2 committee-room. A lively and profitable evening is anticipated. THE BEST SYSTEM The Hon. James Allen was asked today if there was anything iri the suggestions thai, had been made that another system of recruiting would be adopted in New Zealand. The Minister replied in the negative. He said that the justification of the method we had followed was the experience of fourteen months, and instead of having any dolibt as to the method, he was more strongly confirmed that it was the right one, and so were the officers of the Department. The Minister added that a statement as to recruiting generally would be made to the House shortly.