GOVERNMENT'S NEW SCHEME.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 154, 2 July 1917, Page 8

GOVERNMENT'S NEW SCHEME.

TO SECURE ADEQUATE] DRAFTS.

SYDNEY, June 30,

Mr W. M. Hughes (Federal Prime Minister) announced that the Government was formulating a recruiting policy, and had taken into consideration the present position of the war and the circumstances in which Parliament was elected. The Government was pledged not to resort to compulsory service save under certain circumstances which in its opinion hae? not yet arisen, and therefore it would submit proposals in harmony with those pledges,, which is believed would keen Australia's five divisions at fighting strength until ft-tobcr, 1917." The War <.ffice> basing its -stimate of-wastage: on the Somnie offensive, had advised '■ ■the;^oimhpnwealth %at'^i6i^ reih-?' fprcemEnts would be • required mohthlyv Happily, later experience had •proved^ that estimate to be too high. The Winter campaign and the spring offensive had led the Government to fix the minimum number required at 7000 a month. It was-estimated that there were still 140,000 single men and 280,000 married men between 18 and 44 years of age who were eligible. In the past, six months-the recruits averaged'" 4750 a month. Th May the number fell to 4500j which was quite inadequate. The Government desired to secure additional recruits to enable 5000 of the remaining members of the First Division to return to Australia.

Mr Hughes promised early legislation to give effect to a generous repatriation .scheme, to protect the interests of .'dependents,'and'.give preference to returned soldiers for employment. The Minister for Defence had been authorised to convene State conferences of sporting bodies to .give effect to the Government proposals regarding the restriction of spprt EFinallv, Mr Hughes appealed to all sections to-sink the past and work harmoniously in support of a policy which-would not impose an impossible task on the cor.-munitj. The Director of Recruiting is confident that th-^ number desired can be secured.