GALL FOR RECRUITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 8

GALL FOR RECRUITS.

TRAINING AND HOLIDAYS.

APPEAL BY MR. MASSEY. NECESSITY FOR ENTERING CAMP[by TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION J Wellington-. Friday. The Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey, has issued the following appeal : — • »i * " I have learned with some surprise that a number of our recruits who intended going into camp next week are withdrawing their names with the object of having the holidays free, and again giving in their names afterwards. I have also been informed that recruiting has so improved during the last few days, that had it not been for this unforeseen contingency the

eleventh reinforcements would have been up to full strength at the due date- I can quite understand the desire of our boys to be with their friends and relatives during this festive season, and I have no fault to find with the sentiment by which many of them are actuated. But in view of the seriousness of the position it is necessary that all men in the reinforcements start their training at tie same time, in order that the great reputation which New Zealand soldiers have acquired may be kept up. May I under such circumstances, appeal to registered or even intending recruits, to adhere to their original intention to go into camp before the holidays, and so keep the training system working, as it has worked for many monthse past, smoothly and satisfactorily- " I know what I am asking for may be considered a sacrifice, but I am confident that the loyalty and enthusiasm of young New Zealanders will be equal to the emergency which has arisen. I ask our boys to remember their comrades who are celebrating the holiday season in the fightingline where, along with other brave men and trained soldiers, they are doing their duty to their Empire, their country and their fellow-citizens. I ask them to remember how thorough training has enabled our soldiers to distinguish themselves, and to do credit to the land to 'which they belong. If they remember these facta, and act accordingly, if they give, up the fleeting pleasures of a few days for the more lasting pleasure of having done the right thing at the right time, I"am sure that in after life they will always look back with satisfaction to the Christmas holidays of 1915 spent by them in Trentham training camp."

EXPECTATION OP CONSCRIPTION. T • EFFECT ON VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENT. TbT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. Anxiety already is existing in the minds of the Defence authorities as to whether the eleventh reinforcements will go into camp at full strength. The present indications are that they will go in short, possibly as many as 500, and unless the rate of enlistment is much accelerated the eleventh, or some other draft, will assuredly go away short The appeal to men not to refuse to enter camp before : Christmas deals with one cause only of the shortage, and a cause comparatively ; unimportant The supply of willing men is not inexhaustible, and recruiting must tend to get more difficult

It is quite correct to say that the National Register figures and the declaration of the outlines of the Government's plan for using the names and schedules as part of a sort of moral suasion scheme has had an appreciable effect on recruiting. The men are . inclined to say, and are saying, that they suppose they will have to go, and they will wait for the calL It is also a fact that all except the people who are rabidly anti-conscrip-tion expect that conscription will come, and are not worrying about voluntary recruiting.