OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF RECRUITING PROPOSALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16214, 27 April 1916, Page 7

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF RECRUITING PROPOSALS.

TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE RECRUITS WANTED. COMPULSION UNLESS 50,000 MEN ENLIST BY MAY 27. EXTRA SERVICE BY TIME-EXPIRED MEN AND TERRITORIALS. ALL RECRUITS TO BE HELPED TO MEET CIVIL LIABILITIES. (Received April 26. 9.40 p.m.) London, April 26. The official report of the secret session of the House of Commons states that the Prime Minister, Mr. H. Asquith, gave particulars of the expansion of the array since the outbreak of war, and of the total military efforts of the Empire, including the contributions of the Overseas Dominions. Mr. Asquith reviewed the recruiting problem, and stated it had been shown that the results to date had fallen short of the requirements for our proper military effort. This was due not to an overestimate of the men ivailable, but to tho time required for sifting individual cases without injuring other essential national services. In order to meet the situation, the Government had determined on the prolongation until the end of the war of the service of timeexpired men, whoso period of service under the present law can be extended for one year only; to empower the military authorities to transfer territorials to any unit where they might be needed; to render exempted men liable to military service immediately on the expiry of the exemption certificate; and the enrolment of all youths as they reach their eighteenth year. The Government had decided on an immediate effort to secure the voluntary enlistment of unattested married men. If, on May 27, 50,000 of these men had not been secured, the Government would ask Parliament for compulsory powers. The sam ecourse would be taken if the weekly enlistments after May 27 do not reach 15,000, until 200,000 unattested men have been obtained. Meantime, the position will be under constant review by the Government. Mr. Asquith pointed out that, as under the proposed scheme, all the available unattested married men would be enlisted voluntarily o under compulsion, the main ground alleged for the release of the attested married men would disappear. A special committee had been appointed, Mr. Asquith stated, which was to draw up a scheme to enable men to meet their civil liabilities. The Government proposes to assist married men and single men in regard to rent, mortgage interest, payment of instalments under contract, taxes, rates, insurance premiums, and school fees, the total relief not to exceed £104 per annum. The House will resume ia secret session pa .Wednesday, .