VOLUNTARYISM FAILS

Nelson Evening Mail, 15 November 1916, Page 5

VOLUNTARYISM FAILS

EXCEPT !N AUCKLAND, NELSON, ANDWANGANUI

25rd AND 24th REINFORCEMENTS

•' As- • -brie-Hy ' stated in "yesterday's issue voluntary, recruiting for the 23rd and 24th Reinforcements closed down on Monday night-, and the official figure?? show that '.. here is a national shortage nf 784. men for the 23rd Reinforcements, and also o;' 585 for the 24th, making a combined shortage of 1369 men. Under the Militarv Service Act these shortages will require to be made up from the Ist- Division of.-the Expeditionary Force Reserve/ at'd a ballot accordingly will be taken ."within a'day or two. The ballet, however., will not apply to the whole of the Dominion, several of the recruiting districts having done so well under the voluntary principle that thev have completed their quotas for both the ?srd. and 34th Reinforcements. These districts are:— No. 1-—Auckland Recruiting, District. No. 12—Nelson Recruiting District. No. 20—Wanganui Recruiting District. They , thus occupy, savs the Post, the proud position of having contributed their quota voluntarily, "while the rest, y .of the'recruiting districts have been < obliged to resort to the ballot to make up their deficiencies. These three districts are still keen on maintaining the voluntary principle, and are now concentrating -cn supplying their 25t-h and_ 26th quotas under voluntary principles. This apr Pes particularly to Auckland, where , a vigorous campaign is in proT6SS. • • • °ln adfb'tion. No. 7 Group (Hawkes Bay) hoHs the distinction j>f having m its quota for the 23rds under the voluntary principle, while No.B Group ;Taranaki) has done equally well for the'24ths. POSITION FOR- THE 23rds. ■ The following table shows the quotas of the various recruiting districts for the 23r--! Reinforcements, and the num- ' ber of recruits who attested up to the closing' down of voluntary recruiting last night Recruiting District. Quota. Attested. No. 3—Auckland -260 271* No. 2—Hauraki 76 55 No. 3-—Auckland 73 59 No. 4—Waikato 12-5 52 No- &—Wellington . 20'6 146 No. 6—Manawatn 107 ( 88 No; 7—Hawke ? s • Bay 73 73* No. B—i aranaki 134 J 5 No. 9—Chrifrfccliurcli 173 136 No. JO—S. Canterbury 133 64 No. 11— N. Canterbnrv .99 30 J > No. -12 —Nelson 80 84* No. I-"*—Dnnedin 152 ' 91 No. 14 —Southland 160 101 No. lr—N. Otago 86 40 No. s^—Clntha- 49 31 No. 17— B. of Plenty -' 40 32 No. .18—Wairarapa . . 135 60 " No. 19—Poverty Bsy ,92 33 - ' No.- 20— Wanganui 49 .49No. 21—AVest Coast .33 -31 ' -Tot-'}; " - 2385; 1601 National shortage, 784. , *No hr.Hot required. BF3LIND FOR THE 24ths. The position is better for the.24ths, n? shown :n the following table. giving . the qnrf >= required- for the various districts an I the number of recruits sworn in for -each 'up to the closing down of volunteer enlistment last night:— Recruiting District. Quota. Attested. No. I—-Auckland' 260 260*

' No. No. 3—Auckland 68 33 Xo. 4—Waikato 95 No. a—Wellington 198 154 No. 6~—Manawatu 9S 72

No. Bav ;76 63 Xo. B—Tirana ki "96 97* No. 9 155 104 No. 10— S. Canterbiiry 103 30 No. 11—X. Canterbury 61 50 No. 12—Nelson " 67 71^ No. 13—Dunedin 127 75 No. 14—.Southland 123 51 No. 15—X. Otago " 52 25

• No. 16—Clutha • 49 7 / . Xo. 17— T >. of "Plenty 56 22 ' N No: 18—Vf"sirara pa 84 48 No. 19—Poverty Bay .67 . 32 ' No. 20 —Wanganui" 69 78* - No. 21—West Coast 65 20 _Totals " 2001 1416 - . . National shortage 585. *No ballot required. VOLUNTARYISM CONTINUES. •FOR THE 25ths AND 26ths. \•t > ' ! Although voluntary recruiting has been closed down for the'J23rd and 24th Reinforcements, and the combined short- " ag© will how be require*?-'to be made up by ballot from the members of the Ist Division of the Reserve, voluntaryism still remains open for the 25th and 26th Reinforcements. - Recruits are now being received for these drafts, and' it is hoped ' that the response in their case "will to so good that it will not be necessary to take a ballot. Members of the l.<i. Division -volunteering- for these drafts-, however, must understand that their .fiction in doing so does not absolve them from being obliged to go into camp > with .cither the 23rd or 24ths if the ballot being taken this week falls on them.