THE OTAGO QUOTA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16663, 7 April 1916, Page 9

THE OTAGO QUOTA.

DUNEDIN SECTION COMPLETE. Of the men who left yesterday 38 proceec to Peatherston and 286 to Trentham. ' Thif makes a total of 324, or 51 short of the 1 number Otago was expected to contribute. The numbers allotted to each group and tho numbers forward, according to the latest figures, are as under:— Number Number allotted. forward. Dunedin 117 ' 121 Invercargill ... 108 91 Milton 63, 49 Oamaru 81 ' 48 When the Fourteenth Reinforcements left for Trentham, Dunedin was only six men short, but the other groups each showed a big shortage, with the result that the Dunedin group had to send forward a total of 30, men within a fortnight to make up this shortage. Of these only some three oi four men came from Oamaru and Invercargill. To make up the shortage the group commanders are desirous of sending forward as many infantry men as poss'ble by, Tuesday, and anyone who can possibly get away is requested to communicate with or interview the group commanders without delay. NORTH OTAGO QUOTA. FOURTEEN MEN SHORT. (Peb Unjtei* Phkss Association.) OAMARU, April 6. Tho North Otago quota of the Fifteenth Reinforcements received an enthusiastic farewell to-day. It was 14 men short. GREYMOUTH QUOTA. FOURTEEN MEN SHORT. (Per United Pkebs Association.) GREYMOUTH, April 6. ' Notwithstanding the extra large draft of infantry, the Fifteenth ■ Reinforcements mobil : sed to-day only 14 short, the smallest shortage on the West Coast since December last. Seventy out of 84 required were secured POSITION SUMMARISED. SUBSTANTIAL SHORTAGE. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 6. On the figures available at present New Zealand is 487 infantry short of its_ quota for tho Fifteenth Reinforcements, which are now being mobilised'. The Wellington and tho Auckland men reached camp to-day, and the figures concerning them are definite. Tho southern men are coming up tomorrow, and the figures available regarding them are the numbers known just before departure. From these sources of information the position appears to be; —Wellington military district, 260 short; Aucklind military district, 77 short; Canterbury military district, 99 short; Otago military district, 51 short; —dominion total, 487-short The '.. ellington district's original shortage was 269, but a, few men have gone to camp in the last couple of days. However, little hopo is entertained for the district making anything like a successful attempt to wipe out its shortage. On the other hand, Auckland has telegraphed to defenoe headanarters here saying that it can make good all its deficiency by April 13. Although the Auckland district as a whole was short, the city did more than its share. Tho Auckland group shows a net shortage of 74, and three men were rejected in camp. Interesting evidence in favour of the personal canvass which the Board advocates is stated by a defence official to be furnished by the latest recruiting returns in Otago. Ho says that where the personal appeal has just been instituted the customary shortage has been very considerably reduced, and in at least one group it br!s disappeared. In Canterbury, Kaiapoi (where the personal appeal operates) has a surplus, and other groups have improved their position. Nelson shows a marked improvement. The Wellington and Auckland districts have not taken up the personal canvass yet, and both are short of men. Wellington City, where there is no canvass, is the worst group in the dominion as regards the Fifteenth draft.