THE CALL FOR MEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10199, 12 October 1915, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN.

THE URGENCY OF THE POSITION. Although recruiting continues to be actively pursued in the Wellington military district, the headquarters of which is Paimerston it is patent that still greater efforts will have to be made to meet the demands of the authorities. At present there is a large shortage for the Tenth Reinforcements, and this will have to be made up, and every activity is being displayed in the Wellington district to attain this end. This district extends from the East (-'ape to Taranaki and from Taupo to Wellington, and is divided into five groups: Wellington, Palmerston North, Napier, Masterton and Hawera. The contributions to the Ninth Reinforcements who left the various centres to-day for Wellington were as follows, the figures representing the total of all arms: Wellington, 175; Palmerston, 226; Napier, 182; Masterton. 133; Hawera, 206: total, 922. The second batch of the October draft from this military district will leave next Tuesday, when the group units will be as follows: Wellington, 200: Palmerston, 250; Napier, 253; Masterton, 165; Hawera, 274; total, 1142. In addition to these two batches, it calculated that this district will have to supply 400 mounted rifles and 1200 infantry as its quota of the 4000 men required from tho Dominion for the Tenth Reinforcements. The following figures show the numbers which have been allotted to each group to supply, together with the numbers on the books of each group to date. In every case these numbers are inclusive of medically fit plus those not yet examined, of whom about 10 to 20 Qpr cent will be rejected as medically unfit. More important still, however, these numbers include a large proportion of men who have stated definitely on their application cards that they are not available at present, and will not be ready to undertake military duly till March, 1916. The figures referred to are as follows: NOVEMBER DRAFT. Mounted Rifles: Wellington quota 75, on books, 26: Palmerston 100, on books 15; Napier 100, on books 34: Masterton 50, on books 1; Hawera 75, on books 57; total quota 400, on books 133. Infantry : Wellington quota 300, on books 62: Palmerston .300, on book.-* 79; Napier 150, on books 63; Masterton 150, on books 3; Hawera 300, on books 123; total quota 1200, on books 335. Of the total draft of 1600, only 468 men are at present enrolled. This leaves roughly 1200 fit men to find in a month, or 40 rrifen dairy for thit nex-'t'3o days fr'oni tho Wellington military district.