THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11869, 22 January 1902, Page 5

THE NINTH CONTINGENT.

! NO LACK OF VOLUNTEERS. •?■■■ The announcement published, in jesterI day's issue that the Government has decided to respond to the appeal of the Imperial authorities for more • colonials ; for i South Africa, caused a rash of volunteers 1 to the Brigade Office during the forenoon that set at rest all doubt as to Auckland j being in a position to furnish the neces--1 sary quota. Up to the present, however, : the commander of the district, LieutenantI Colonel Davies, C.8., who is to take | charge of - the Eighth Contingent, has not 1 received any instructions from Wellington : with regard to the enrolment of men,' 1 pending which no action, will be taken. The necessary instructions may, however, arrive at any moment, and the local authorities are confident that if an early despatch of the men is desired, the Auckland section can be completed in a very short space of time. Meanwhile applicants are notified by means of a large placard at. the entrance to the Brigade Office in O'Rorke-street that names are not yet being received, and that all information as to enrolment, etc., will immediately be announced in the advertising columns of the daily papers. . THE HEIGHT OF TROOPERS. In connection with the selection of a Ninth New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, Surgeon-Major Walker, chief of the staff of medical examiners, has expressed regret that during the recruiting for the Eighth Contingent some splendid fellows, measuring 6ft in height, had to be discarded because the instructions fixed the maximum height at sft lOin. Doubtless the discarded men were all the worthy doctor claims for them; men who" would make a fine display in uniform, and call forth high eulogiums as to the physique of our colonial-born youth, but while not wishing to detract from their merits as soldiers, it might be pointed out that a man 6ft or more in height, and built proportionately to ensure constitutional fit- . ness, strength, and stamina, must of necessity be too heavy for the purpose required, viz., chasing the übiquitous Tioer. This being so, it seems that with all other conditions equal, the authorities are acting rightly in fixing the maximum height at' sft lOin, and. the question presents itself as to whether it would not be better that the existing minimum of ■ sft s£in should not be further reduced to, say, sft 4in. Recruits of the latter height are gladly welcomed by ' the Imperial authorities, provided the applicants pass all other tests as to physical fitness, and why should not the same apply to our contingents? The men are wanted to fight, not as ornaments, and in advocating the cause of the smaller man we may point to these facts: (1) Lighter weight; (2) reduction of size of mark for enemy's bullet; (3) — a rule greater activity; (4) less cover required; and (5) —a fact often demonstrated greater endurance. Moreover, there are many volunteers between sft 4in and sft siin, who, from every point of view, save that of height, would make splendid troopers, worthy a place in any contingent. These men have in many instances devoted years to volunteering, and would willingly turn out in the defence of their colony if occasion arose, but simply because of the height stipulation at present in force are precluded from throwing in their lot with the contingents. They feel aggrieved, and not without reason, as a man fitted to serve in the volunteer forces of the colony should be equally fitted to go forth and. do battle for the Motherland. Yet he has to give place to the inexperienced civilian, because, forsooth, he falls a trifle short of sft sJan. in height. It appears to be generally supposed that the reduction in . late years of military standards has been due to the inability to procure bigger men, but this does not necessarily follow. Is it not more reasonable to suppose that the real cause is the result of military experience, and the change of military methods? If the minimum height for the Ninth Contingent was reduced to sft 4in, and the maximum fixed at sft 9ic, there is no reason to doubt but that the men selected— other conditions being equal— would give as good an account of* themselves as any preceding contingent. Be it remembered that the days of shock tactics and cut, thrust, and hew have passed, and that the small man can to-day dodge a bullet and send his leaden reply just as efficiently and speedily as his brother of the type of the gigantic' guardsman, or the colossal Pomeranian. . SUPPLY OF HORSES. It is not expected that there will be any difficulty in getting horses for the Ninth Contingent. The reports in the possession of the Department of Agriculture go to show that there is a surplus of suitable mounts in the colony. REPLIES BY MEMBERS. Mr. Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., wired yesterday morning in reply to the Premier's telegram : — Being out holiday-making yesterday when your telegram arrived re Nintl: Contingent, my reply is a little belated.- ] agree with what has been done, believing that vigorous action to conclude the war bj sending more men is the wisest and most economical course for both the colony anc the Empire. May I suggest that Aucklani should on this occasion be selected t.s cam]: for the North Island, and that all supplies required be simultaneously called for in eacl of main divisions of colony." The Hon. G. B. Morris also wired to the effect that so long as the men were willing to go it would be well to send as many as were required. Mr. Massev, M.H.R., replied to the effect that if the men were really required by tin Imperial Government ho would not object to a Ninth Contingent being sent, but Ministens, with their fuller information, must take the responsibility. Mr. R. Monk, M.H.R., has replied t< the Premier's telegram respecting the Nintl Contingent as follows:"The Right Hon. the Premier, Wellington, Unless there art reasons more urgent than those now known. I do not consider the position so critical a* to demand at present further sacrifice on the part of this colony, as it is from' the best of our population that men for South Africa must be called, and they are needed here. Ir proportion to population New Zealand ha: already contributed more than any other. I would give my last shilling to the Empire'; necessity, but that is not- in view. In sending the' Eighth Contingent we have beer liberal. Our place now is to keep our head; cool and wait.—(Signed) R. Monk." [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. Mr. A. R. Atkinson, one of the members for Wellington City, has sent the following reply to the Premier's circular telegram to members of Parliament regarding the request from the Imperial Government that another contingent from this colony would be acceptable:"Sir, —In reply to your telegram of even date, I have the honour to express my regret that I am unaware of the precise nature either of the communication you have received, ! or of the circumstances upon which it }is based. I must accordingly reply to a large extent in the dark, and therefore ~n the alternative. If the main object of the Imperial Government is to get a further reply to foreign 'pin-pricks,' or if it is merely accepting the invitation which it deems to be held out by your own extravagant language, then my answer must be°in the negative. If, however, there is a'• definite call, based upon the actual requirements of the military situation m South Africa, then I think that we should respond to the call as before; but- in any case I regard the number mentioned as excessive. So far as I can judge the circumstances of the colony, 500 more men are as many as it should be called upon to contribute at the present time." Mr. John Hutcheson, M.H.R., has sent the following answer:—"ln re proposed Ninth Contingent. As I have received no ! new light to enable me to alter my views, I must repeat my former reply. I do not I approve." ' , TO BE EQUIPPED AT AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday.; i I learn from Mr. Witheford that he interviewed the Defence Minister to-day and I asked that the Ninth Contingent should be mobilised and equipped in Auckland. Mr. Seddon replied that the request was a reasonable one, and that so far as ie North Island section was ' concerned, | would' be granted. This will mean that at least one battalion will bo camped m Auckj land.. ■

WELLINGTON PAPERS ON THE NINTH CONTINGENT.' '■ , < . [BT TELEGRAPH.—OWX CORRESPONDS}!!.]- , , Wellington', Tuesday. Regarding the Ninth Contingent, tho Times says: —" The news will- on all hands " be received with a glow of patriotic pride that we of New-'.Zealand ; are . deemed' of such 'value to the Motherland, ( and a' firm ( resolve to keep sending our sons to the; front so long as they are - wanted -in the; cause of liberty and Empire. - There will, „* be- no difficulty at all in filling lip tho : : ranks of the Ninth Contingent, and there , is no ' reason I why it should "not : be ready ' for despatch within a month after the Eighth has left our shores. . ' The Government and the members of the Legislature have already done their duty. 'It only remains for the people to do theirs ,y and make the sacrifices necessary to uphold. the unity and honour of the ■ Empire to which they belong." < - - * - The Post has the following: —" In order * J to strengthen its-.position for negotiations., the Imperial Government is v naturally anxious to prove to the Boers and Conti- 1 nentals that the Empire is not exhausted,i : and that the -Motherland and • her■■ colonies-!; are still prepared *to furnish- the "men re-' quired ~to bring the war to a finish, . to reduce the enemy to unconditional ' sur-< ' render. Should negotiations be opened by i the Boers, the British -would then ■<be ableto treat- without loss of - prestige, while,' should no terms be agreed upon, they would be better prepared for carrying out the final operations. As the Imperial Go- ; vernment will be bearing the cost -of tho Ninth Contingent, the New Zealand taxpayer will not be making a direct ; sacrifice, but indirectly the colony will be giving up for the sake of the Empire a largo number of able-bodied workers. We have thrown in our lot with the Motherland in . ,: this struggle, and if need were should be ready to send even a Tenth Contingent."-'