NELSON DISTRICT RECRUITING ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, 30 May 1916, Page 3

NELSON DISTRICT RECRUITING ASSOCIATION

A meeting of the Nelson.'District Recruiting Association was held m the Mayor's room last evening. In the absence of the Mayor (Mr C. J Harley) owiio- to indisposition, Mr H. R. Duncan was voted to the chair. There were also present:—Messrs W. Lock (treasurer) F. G. G-ibbs, Wallace SnodgTass, C. C S'idford (organiser), R. W. Stiles. J. L Ching, Rev. W. Baumber, Dr. Johnston and A. E. Hedges (secretary). A letter was received from. SurgeonGencral Henderson, Director-General of Medical Services, in reference to three Nelson men who had been passed by.t-he Nelson Medical Board and rejected by the medical authorities "at Trentham. — It was resolved to refer the letter to the Nelson Medical Boaird. Sergeant-Major Campbell, a. returned soldier, who had. been canvassing the Motueka district, presented his report. Incidentally Sergeant-Major Campbell mentioned'that on one occasion he had cvcled 38 miles and secured- eight enli'stments.' He also stated that on going to ■■ interview some men who had filled in recruiting cards he found that they had disappeared. Telegrams were received from Hon. J. Allen as follows:—"Delighted, to hear vour Seventeenth Reinforcements complete." "Results are most satisfactory, hope they will continue so." Mr Dock reported that so fa'r £241 2s 8d had -been received. Contributions from several local bodies had not yes come' to hand, the total amount outstanding being £35. Mr Sidford reported that the registrations to date on the rolls totalled 530; recruiting report cards on rolls, 4092; recruiting report cards not on rolls 350. These figures would no doubt assist the Government when the compulsion Act. I'equired' to be worked in the district. The subcommittee, with Mr Duncan as chairman had met and' conferred with him at intervals, and the Defence Staff, under Captain Nicholls, Colonel Chaffey and Major Finnis, had rendered great assistance in Departmental matters. The district committees had, done their best, to carry out the committee's requirements. He praised the' canvassing work Jone by the returned soldiers and by Mr Clark, of Wakefield. Many of the canvassers bad, travelled miles in the back country to interview men, this being, ispccially the case in Tapawera, Lower Moutere, Dovedale,. Collingwood and Wakefield districts. In regard to passDorts, he considered that the Government mould be asked to permit the AssociatioiNto report on each application for a jassport. The drafts for the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and, Seventeenth Reififorce•nents were now completed, and there was a large surplus to work on. for ."uture drafts. He was pleased to < say there were very few shirkers in the district, and as they would be well looked li'ter by the Compulsion Act he advised the Association not to trouble about them further. He noted by the cards mat 90 per cent, of the married men .vere willing to serve when the single men had been palled up. The recruiting speech by the Hon. Janies Allen had Lightened" the work of recruitingf considerably, as it ga,ve the facts from the head of'the Defence Department of New Zealand

It was resolved that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Recruiting Board, Wellington, with a suggestion that should any assistance be required ay the Government in putting, tile new scheme under the Compulsion Bill now before Parliament, the Nelson Executive -Committee, and organiser will be prepared to render every possible assistance, j ■ The meeting placed dn record its high appreciation of the work done by the organiser (Mr C. O. iSidford), the subcommittee, and the canvassers • for the successful results achieved. The me&tins then concluded.