DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, 24 October 1916, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE. STATEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Oct. 23. The Minister of Defence states that the Dominion's war expenditure is nonone million sterling per month,, which the country is meeting without flinching. This amount includes the cost of transporting troops and also includes the payment and provisioning and complete maintenance'of the division in the field. , Replying to a question as to the strength of the division and its position as regards the supply of Reinforcements, Mr. Allen emphasised the fact that the Dominion's policy of beginning moderately and steadily building up the forces to the strength of a distinct division with ample reserves in the field, in training and on the way, has been maintained unbrokenly. He pointed out without making comparisons that it had not been necessary I for Sir Douglas Haig to call ur>on New Zealand to fulfill her obligations. Mr. Allen made it clear that there was no .foundation for the rumour that the New Zealand ers are being sent to the Balkans. Our strongest representation was on the Western front where the division was likely to remain till the end. The mounted men were doing good work in Egypt, and there was no suggestion of their being withdrawn. The Minister emphatically denied the suggestion that the Government was deliberately delaying the operation of compulsion, and said that if representative public bodies desired to become apprised of the real difficulties in preparing for conscription, they need only appoint .someone to take part i n the work. He ridiculed the allegation that the Government was awaiting the result of the Commonwealth referendum. The Dominion would maintain her own policy, and would meet all her obligations. When compulsion was exrercised there would be nbsolutelv no discrimination betwen the consciint and the volunteer.