NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17528, 11 July 1917, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

SUPPLY OF REINFORCEMENTS.

FURTHER TALK IN THE HOUSE.

[From Oct. Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, July 10,

Further definite opinions wore expressed in the House to-day on the question ofNew Zealand's future supply of men to tho fighting ranks. Dr Newman contended that though it was quite right for New Zealand to send large numbers of men at the beginning of tho war, when the Empire was in jeopardy and everyone thought tho war wonld be short and sharp, tho position was quite different now. Tho war had been going on for three years and no one could say whether it would not "go on for "another two or three years., Up to the present ,wo liad put about 85,000 men, the pick of New Zealand, into tho war, and he was going to ask tho House whether wo had not very nearly reached the limit. New Zealand could not go on producing men and continue producing food as she was now. '"I am satisfied" in my own mind," declared Dr Newman, '" that woihave sent nearly enough men to the front, and' that our duty is tt> produce more food. For three years our farms havo been depleted and we are going to produce, less food and chaos in agriculture in New Zealand. The Prime Minister quoted General Robertson aa having appealed for. more men, but since February America, with her hundred millions of population, has come in, and the position is altogether different. Our army is a drop in the ocean. If we send 2000 men to the front every month, on the same population basis the United States might send 180,000, and if that is so our 2000 would not be missed." Dr Newman.went on to point out that Now Zealand was the first to introduce conscription, which only now was being passed in Canada and had been rejected in Australia. New Zealand had maintained tho strength of every reinforcement, which none of the other dominions had done, and, excepting England, our manhood had been more depleted than.in any other part of the Empire. Originally we sent a force of 8000 men and- then sent Liverpool regiments and other thou : sands. We had sent, in fact, so many in excess that at one time we had 45,000 men stacked up at Salisbury, that the authorities did not know what to do with. Members: You aro under tho mark.

Dr Newman: Well, anyway they formed them into a special brigade and sent them to the front. I say now that we have a right to seriously slacken off. He went on to say that he could not see Ids' way to vote for sending married men, especially those who had to pay off mortgages on house or furniture, pay insurance and support one or two children, which obviously it would be impossible to do on military (pay, unless something was done tb assist them. He contended that it was a matter in which tho House and Govornment must act. A non-committal attitude was taken by Mr J. C. Thomson, who remarked: " I'm not) going to say whether or not more men should be sent. When the Commonwealth is just considering the question" whether conscription should be introduced and when, owing to racial reasons, there are difficulties in Canada, I think New Zealanders should withhold any expret&ion, trusting that the Government will do whatever is right."