SLACK RECRDITIXG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 9

SLACK RECRDITIXG.

.YESTERDAY'S RESPONSE.

TWENTY-FOUR ENLISTMENTS.

ONLY NINE MEN ACCEPTED.

Recruiting was slack in tho city yesterday, when only 24 men enlisted. * Tina was the lowest daily total recorded since the station was opened on March 4. Of yesterday s number, nine were accepted, 12 were deferred, and threo were rejected as unfit for active service.

The Auckland Mounted Rifles Band played a, number of selections outsido the recruiting station last evening. The following table shows the number of men who have enlisted at tho central station since the commencement of the new recruiting campaign in Auckland: —

Number ... , . . ~ Keg. Aic. lief- Eel. March 4to 11 ... 559 275 186 123 March 13 to 18 ... 37.1 160 123 81 March 20 to 25 ... 307 147 97 63 Jlarrh 2i to April 1 275 11.'! 112 ;o April 3to 8 ... 222 ICo 81 35 Monday ... ... )( jg 17 8 iuesday 21 9 12 3 Totals 1.831 828. 631 372

The names, occupations, and addresses of the men accepted yesterday are as follows:—

■ A. Bracewell, plumber, Wanganni Ave .T. Carmichael, ploughman, People's Palace S. J. Owens. laboiuer, Xingsland. T. Proctor, seaman, Freeman's Bay. F. P. Rowe, ironmonger, Mount Roskill. ' • E. Speight, carpenter, Epsom. T. JL Virtue, warehouseman, Beresford St. S. Wolfe, machinist, Grey Lynn. H. I. \ . Wilson, motor mechanic, Ponsonby

IMPROVEMENT IN CHRISTOHUROH.

ATTITUDE OF MARRIED MEN'.

tBT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] CiTRiSTCtrrKCH, Tuesday. There lias been a revival of recruiting in the last few days, sixty enlistments having been recorded to-day. Canvassing is, said to be responsible for the heavy enlisting. A feature of the enlistments for several days past has been that practically only single men have been registering. > The canvassers report that tho married men are quito willing to enlist, but are practically unanimous in declining to do so until the Government gives its pledge that if they register it will not call them up until all the eligible single men have been absorbed, if necessary by conscription. This attitude was pointed out to the Hon. .Tames Allen, Minister for Defence, by a deputation (urn the Canterbury Defenco Corps, which acts as the Cliristchurch Recruiting Board, and the Minister promised to brii.g the matter before his confreres on the National Recruiting Board. The returned soldiers are also beginning to obtain some results from their interviews with the " triflers"—those men who have either registered for service, but have never gone any further with the matter; or, who, after being declared temporarily unfit at the medical examination, have never reported again; also, some, who, without any special qualifications for the work, have registered for congested branches of the service. As a result of a circular letter sent to several of these men, a few had intimated their willingness to go on with the business of enlisting. Another feature has been the number of barmen and jockeys who have registered.

HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES.

RETURN OF SINGLE MEN.

'A return was presented io the "Harbour r > m! y* *%.T Riving t > number of single men oi muiw.i v *''•> tea"' -• employment, and their position :a ard 't e>ilist?iienfc ■!» io • T t showed • V . ,''Vir -r 1■ • ' j<- to . • v. •••«&{ *. wnr.teered .„;-n acccpteo, ' r> we volunteered and been deferred, ■■ iiave bi i rejected, and fivo are r •■.ers. There are 28 who have not vointeer ,of whom eight are without dependants. As to one man, information is not available. At yesterday's meeting it was mentioned that since the preparation of "he return one more employ had resigned in order 1 to enlist. The return was referred to the board in committee.

IMPROVEMENT IN OTAOO,

DUNEDIN'S DAT/.Y AVERAGE 43.

[Bt rZLEGItATH. -PRESS ASSOC7A.;)CIK.} Duxedct, Tuesday.

Since the new recruitinc scheme was inaugurated in Dunedin 842 recruits have been examined, averaging 49 daily. Recruiting throughout the Otago district shows a great improvement.

FIRE AT RONGOTEA.

STORE AND DWELLINGHOUSE. [BT IEUGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Paluerston North, Tuesday. A store and dwelling at Rongotea, occupied by Mr. J. Proctor, were completely destroyed by fire last night. Nothing was saved, the occupants escaping with their wearing apparel only. Tho building was owned by Mr. C. Dalil, of Palraerston North, and insured for £500 in the Northern Insurance Company. The stock, valued at £2300, was insured in the Commercial Insurance Company for £1380. The furniture was insured for £165 in the Commercial Insurance Company.