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Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 6

Once more the demand for men exceeds the number offering, and the Minister of Defence has issued an appeal for more recruits to fill,up the ranks of the 11th Reinforcements. To obtain 600 infantry recruits within a fortnight is not an easy „ matter, and the fact that the Christmas holidays will soon be upon us does not make the task of the recruiting agencies the less difficult. In the statement issued by Mr Allen it is mentioned that the names upon the Defence Department's register are not yet depleted, but tliat a number of men who had registered had stipulated that they should not be called upon until after the New Year. There are many men who have not yet registered who' arc in the same case—they intend to do their duty, but they are not prepared to give up their holiday, which probably means a visit to their homes, when it may be a long while before they return. Meanwhile the organisation of the Recruiting Board is doing well, but it is possible with more assistance to make it even more effective. Something after the style of the recruiting system established in Britain by Lord Derby might be arranged;—a personal canvass of eligible men—but that, again, depends largely on the results of the National Register. The Christmas holidays present - a difficulty, but not an insuperable one.