New Zealand.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 16 December 1914, Page 8

New Zealand.

DISAPPOINTED RECRUITS.

Per Press '"Association,

Dunedihj December 15

Five deserters from the Buteshire appeared in 'the Police Court this morning. Four left the ship' with the object of enrolling in the expeditionary force. Two of them would have been valuable acquisitions, one having served 14 years in the navy and reached the highest non.commissioned rank. The other had been refused at Home because he was over age. ' The Magistrate ordered the men to be placed on board before the ship sailed this afternoon.

NEW ZEALAND CONGRATULATIONS. Wellington. December 15. On December Bth His Excellency the Governor despatched a cable message to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, asking him to convey this message to Field-Marshal Sir John French :—"New Zealand desires to heatily congratulate you on the honor which His Majesty the King has conferred upon you as. Commander-in-Chief of all his Majesty's forces in the field." To-day His Excellency received the following reply:—"Please accept my warmest thanks for the kind and generous message from New Zealand. I have a vivid recollection of the splendid work done by New Zealand, ers under my command in South Africa. (Signed) French."

OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

Palmerston North, December 1G

"The basic principle of New Zealand's citizen army is 'no class distinctions,' " was the reply given 'by the Hon. J. Allen to a local deputation which desired that ex-Public School boys should be allowed to form one regiment of probably four hundred men for service at the front. He would like, however, to encourage men in any way possible, and suggested forming platoons or companies. At present he could hot say that this was necessary. The deputation also suggested setting up a concentration camp to hold .recruits not immediately needed, and in reply Mr Allen said the Defence .Department was against taking men away from industries until they were required, but he would submit the matter to Colonel Robin.