RECRUITING IN SOUTHLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 16197, 19 August 1916, Page 5

RECRUITING IN SOUTHLAND.

DISAPPOINTING RESULTS. '

MANY- MEN; *NOT ENROLLED,

[Special to the ' Stau.']

INVERCARGILL, August 18. j There has been a considerable lull in I recruiting in Southland during the past ' three weeks, and the Twentieths, which I leave here for Trentham on Thursday j next, are at present short of about half i the required number, and there is little' prospect of anything like the whole of the deficiency being made up. It is expected that the Southland quota will go into camp about 70 strong instead of the required 104. There is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, -especially among those who have responded to the call," and "their friends, that too much leniency has been extended to those of the shirker class. Instances haw come under notice of laxity on the I part of members of recruiting committees I in failing to see that eligibles filled in and returned the enrolment cards. It is aikiged that some employers who aremembers of recruiting committees, fearing that further recruiting would make the labor problem more acute, have not been over-anxious to add names to the list of those eligible to serve, with the result that'many young men are not on the National Register, "neither have they returned the enrolment forms provided by the recruiting committees. There are instances, too, of parents of "eligibles" who are said to have destroyed the enrolment cards, and, unfortunately, members of recruiting committees have "not carried out their part by reporting such cases. It is the mral eectioh of the community who are the greatest sinners in this respect, and it is very evident that the cause will not b© furthered unless a firmer attitude is adopted. The coming into operation of the Military Service Act will not improve matters to any extent, as the absence of many mi« from the National Register will, in addition to causing confusion, lead to a deal of heartburning, especially among those who have made sacrifices. The general opinion is that the enroling in this locality of roan eligible to .serve has been very imperfectly done, and should certainly only have been undertaken by responsible officials. WITH THE AUSTRALIANS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

. SYDNEY, August- 18. Included in casualty list Xo. 196 are the following names of " New Zealanders : Killed in action.—Gunner A. F BOURNE.

Wounded.—Private C. Irving, Corporal H. Spratt (both the record occasion), Lance-corporal A. Littiejohn, and R. Stephens. Missing.—Private F. T. Brown; FOR RED CHOSS AND Y.M.G.A. FUNDS. Mrs W. Bright, of Passmore crescent. Maori Hill, hes for some months been preparing for a sale of work at her house, with the object of giving financial helo to the Hed Cress and "Y.M.C.A. war funds. The sale, which was held recently, proved a gratifying success, the sum of £43 being realised. £2o' was handed to the treasurer of the Moray Place Congregational Church branch of the I?ed C,ross Society, and £23 was given direct to the Y.M.C.A. to be used for soldiers' comforts. Mrs Bright received substantial help from a number of lady friends.

_ A recruiting- conference of representatives of Hawke-'s Bay local bodies was held at Napier yesterday. The opinion was expressed that ni'anv men were changing their addresses to'avcid getting on the rolls, though Napier, had kept its quota well up to the mark. The speakers thought the Farmers' Union should inquire into the possibility of women takinup farm work. One country delegate said that the men approached asked why the _ canvassers and' members of local bodies of military age did not enlist. The opinion was expressed that the canvassers should be returned soldiers, and that a paid central executive shoidd be set no.

The children's demonstration arranged for by the Overseas Club to take pla-ce°iti the King's Theatre on Saturday next will be, it is said, the latest and best, of its kind produced here. A programme of novel items will bo rendered bv the talented band of child pierrots, who are anxious to assist to provide extra comforts to- our boys at the front. Tnte-esting items will ba submitted, comprisitnr speetaauV patriotic marches, songs, a, K I choruses. As popular prices are to be charged, it, will be within the reach of even-ono to help.

[The cable news in this issue accredited to 'The Times ' lias appeared in that journal, but-only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of ' The Times.']