RECRUITING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9267, 7 February 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING

THE BOARD AT WORK NEW APPEAL TO NEW ZEALAND’S MANHOOD. THE ISSUE OF BADGES. The work of the Recruiting Board has now begun and circular letters giving details of the new scheme of lecruiting have been sent to members of the Legislature, Mayors of boroughs, chairmen of local bodies and other persons interested in tho effort to secure volunteers for service with the Expeditionary Forces. The first stop is to be the establishment of a strong central recruiting committee in each of tho districts indicated by the boards. The districts are based largely upon the counties as far as the rural areas are concerned. These committees will embody, or co-operate, with the present recruiting organisations. The board’s letter to heads of recruiting organisations is as follows : “Wellington, February, 1916. “Sir, —The exigencies of the war, and tb© very serious issues at stake have led the National Cabinet to decide upon a new recruiting system. It is now proposed to secure the active sympathy and co-eperation of tho several local authorities of the Dominion, and of the patriotic organisations that have already rendered such admirable service to the nation, which we are confident will be continued. As members of the Recruiting Board entrusted with the direction of the new scheme, we are, therefore, addressing you, and through the members of your organisation, in the confident assurance that you will lend all possible assistance to the movement now being made to maintain recruiting at the strength required for the fulfilment of our engagements with the British authorities. GREATER SACRIFICES.

“It is no small thing that New Zealand has already accomplished- We have a right to be proud of the magnificent response that has been made by our gallant sons to the call of the Empire. But, although we have sent 34,000 men into the fighting line, and another 13,000 troops are in training, the demands of the war are such than we cannot afford to let the sacrifice rest at that. Greater, and still greater, effort and sacrifice are required if we intend to make sure of success, and anything less is unthinkable to men of British birth or descent. Especially is this so when we know the extent of Germany’s designs, and that her ulterior object in the present war was the destruction of the British Empire and the complete subjugation of the British oversea dominions and dependencies, to which Dr Putnam, a distinguished American writer, tells us ‘ Germany has long expected to become the heir.’ THE MONTHLY DEMAND.

“It is essential that for the next twelve months, and possibly longer, we should be prepared to send four-weekly' reinforcements of 2350 men into the firing line. It is not suggested that we have by any means exhausted the possibilities of voluntary enlistments. The National Register shows that the required men can be obtained without unduly straining the resources of the country or seriously impairing its industrial condition. But with so many conflicting accounts of the probable duration of the war and of tho exhaustion of the enemy’s resources, there is an obvious danger that men who would otherwise volunteer for the front may arrive at the conclusion that the war will be over before they can render any material assistance, and that their time would thus be wasted by entering camp, it is part of our duty to combat that idea. At present it is impossible to forecast the duration of the war. Lord Kitchener has apparently seen no reason to alter his opinion expressed at the commencement of the war, that we must be prepared for at least a three-years’ struggle, and possibly for longer. Our duty is, therefore, clear. W© must be prepared at every point, and atop short at no sacrifice that will enable us to fulfil our part in the war. HOW'TO HELP. “On behalf of the National Government we very gratefully recognise the valuable work your society has rendered to the State in furthering the interests of the Empire. The duties so admirably discharged by your organisation in the past justify the conclusion that you will not be found wanting in i the greater business of the present. May we suggest the following ways in which you may help the present effort :

“(1) By co-operating with tho local bodies in your district in the formation of recruiting committees and co-ordi-nating any efforts you may he making with those of the local bodies referred to.

“(3 By sinking all personal differences in regard to this policy or that, and by recognising that th© common good demands united action and an absence of all controversy that may endanger the success of the recruiting movement.

“(3) By refraining from and-discour-aging all attempts at the victimisation of all possible recruits and avoiding inquisitorial or personal questions when dealing with such likely men. “The accompanying paper will give you an idea of the scope and policy of the new recruiting method. “May we again ask for your cooperation and assistance ? We are sufficiently assured by your past action of your desire to further the interests of the Empire, and feel, therefore, that we can confidently leave the matter in your hands, aa we are convinced you

will exert yourself to the utmost to secure the success of the new campaign. “YoUrs in the service of the King, Nation and Empire, W. F. MASSEY, Chairman, J. G. WAUD, J. ALLEN, , „ Members of Recruiting Committee.' DUTIES OF BECRUITING COMMITTEES. A circular accompanying this communication explains in detail the work that the recruiting committees are expected to perform and the methods that are to be adopted. The essential feature of the scheme is to be the personal appeal to the possible or probable recruit.

Each committee will be provided with an alphabetical list showing the names, addresses and occupations of all the men of military age in the district it is expected to cover, and the names will be checked off as they are dealt with by the recruiting agents. Stress is laid npon the wearing of badges by the men who' ace entitled to them. FUTURE REQUIREMENTS 2350 MEN EVERY FOUR WEEKS. "Our engagement with the Imperial authorities,” states the Recruiting Board in a covering letter, “necessitates the raising, training, equipment, and sending to the front every four weeks Reinforcements of 2350 men as long as the war lasts, in addition to the 34,000 troops already sent to the front and the 12,000 men now in training. While this represents a big effort on the part of a little more than a million people, the National Register shows that the number required can be maintained for a considerable time without any undue strain upon the country or its industrial life. "There is no reason to think we shall be unable to enrol the men on the voluntary system, provided a determined and systematic effort is made to bring homo to men of military age and fitness 1 , and more especially to the single men with the minimum of responsibilities, the vital necessity for their active co-operation with their comrades already at the front." THE BOARD’S OFFICES. The present offices of the Recruiting Board are in the Old Parliamentary Buildings, where the secretary, Mr J. D. Gray, with hfe staff, is occupying some of the committee rooms. The members of the board (the Prime Minister, the Minister for Finance, and the Minister for Defence) will meet as required. THE ALPHABETICAL LISTS.

The circular distributed by the Recruiting Board mentions the alphabetical lists showing the men of military age. with their addresses and occupations, in'each of the recruiting districts. These lists have been prepared by the Government Statistician, from the data provided by the National Register, and they are being printed by the Government .Printing Office. They will all be ready for distribution in the near future. These lists do not indicate what answers the men made to the questions regarding willingness to serve. They supply merely the names, addresses and occupations. The business of the recruiting committees will be to get into touch with every man of military age. The lists are to he regarded as confidential by the committees. ISSUE OF BADGES FOUR CLASSES TO BE RECOGNISED. The issue of badges, to be worn round the arm, is an important feature of the recruiting scheme. The authorities are desirous that the badges should -be worn by all the men entitled to them, since it is believril that this practice will assist the recruiting organisation materially in their work*.

The badges will bo of four classes and will ‘ distinguish returned soldiers, enlisted. men: not yet called up, men who have been rejected, and men who are retained in New Zealand for essential services.

Arrangements for ■ the distribution of these badges are being made. Future recruits will secure them through the recruiting committee's, but, the Defence Department has also to arrange for the distribution of badges to men who enlisted prior to the new scheme coming into operation. Preii A ■woelmlirm. | AUCKLAND. February 5. The Hon. J. Allen (Minister for Defence) states that, in connection with the' recruiting scheme personal appeal, ho will issue four distinct types of armlets quite easily distinguishable—on khaki, with a crown. They had been examined by tbe Premier and himself, and finally approved and adopted by the Recruiting Board. The armlets will bo issued as follows:—I, Enlisting and waiting to be called up'; 2, unable to comply with the- requirements; 3, retained in New Zealand for services; 4, soldiers returned from the front.