DOMINION RECRUITING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16231, 17 May 1916, Page 8

DOMINION RECRUITING.

SEVENTEENTH DRAFT. INFANTRY SHORTAGE, 462. TOTAL FOR ALL DRAFTS, 617. 493 ENLISTMENTS LAST WEEK. The chairman* of the Recruiting Board, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, last night issued the following statement regarding recruiting: — The position generally throughout the Dominion with respect to recruiting continues satisfactory. This is particularly the case in all districts -where the new recruiting scheme has been, or is being, carried out, and the figures given below, showing the number of infantry registered in each group up to May 12 for the seventeenth reinforcements, which will not be mobilised to go to camp for training for another fortnight yet, indicate that there is every likelihood of this draft coming in at full strength. The official figures are as follows: Group 1, Auckland City, plus .. 323 Group 2, Paoroa, shortage .. 45 Group 8. Whangarei, shortage., 37 Group 4. Hamilton, shortage .. 68 Shortages for— Auckland district 17 The shortages in the other districts are: Wellington 232 Canterbury .. .. ... 150 Otago 63 The total Dominion shortage for the seventeenth reinforcements is 462, as compared with a shortage of 830 on the corresponding day last week. In addition to the 368 men who were registered for the seventeenth reinforcements in the week, 125 men were sent into camp to make good the shortages in previous drafts, or a total of 493 medically fit men for the seven days prior to May 12. The total shortage at date for the seventeenth and previous drafts is 617, and if last week's rate of recruiting is maintained this number will be easily secured in the time available— full fortnight.