NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16760, 29 January 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

During the last session of Parliament an effort was made to fix a limit to New Zealand's share in winning the war, Though there was no attempt to justify the figure, it was urged that 100,000 men should be set as the New Zealand contribution, and that upon the attainment of that total the Government should allow the Division in the West ! and the Mounted Brigado in the East to fight through the remaining period of the war without further reinforcement. Already 88,000 have sailed, and there are 10,000 in camp, so that even at the present greatly reduced and irregular despatch of reinforcements, the balance of 12,000 may be on foreign service before the year is out. In view of the manner in which the military situation has developed, it may be presumed that those who would have called a halt last year are now beginning to realise, even if they are not wholly convinced, that it is impossible to set an arbitrary definition to the sacrifices which must be made by New Zealand. But, in fact, even those arguments which were formerly unacceptable must now be even less impressive. The exhaustion of the Dominion's man power is not being approached as rapidly as might be suggested from the rising figures of the Dominion's forces. Though 88,000 men have been despatched 14,000 have returned to the Dominion ; in the last five months 13,000 reinforcements have left the Dominion and 3000 soldiers have returned, and are being absorbed into the civilian community. For the time being the actual reduction of the Dominion's man power does not exceed 74,000. It is probable that the whole subject will be reconsidered during the special session of Parliament which the Government is expected to convene. It should be approached, not as it was last session by an effort to put an arbitrary limit to enlistments, but with a view to our whole strength being put forward in the direction in which we can be most helpful, whether by an increase in reinforcements or by a greater production of food. The matter is, indeed, of such pressing importance that the country is entitled to some guidance from the Government without the delay of several months before Parliament meets.