RECRUITING FOR THE FIELD FORGE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13757, 21 April 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

RECRUITING FOR THE FIELD FORGE.

NELSON'S RESPONSE,

Yesterday afternon a representative of "The Colonist" had a chat with Captain Robinson, officer in charge of the -Nelson-Mar lborough area, on the subject of recruiting • . "A month or two .ago," said Captain Robinson, "there was a feeling abroad that this district was not doing its share, but now I am pleased to say that recruiting is remarkably good. This has been especially the case in the last few weeks. For instance, for the draft ! which sailed by the Pateena on Saturiday, this area was asked to supply 50 infantry and 9 mounted men, but the liosponse was so satisfactory that, the ! authorities at headquarters, in order to n>ako up shortages from other districts, called upon Nelson and Marlborough to increase their quota, with the result that i 4 mounted men, 15 artillery (including gunners and drivers), two specially trained ambulance men, and 7J infantry were despatched.'; This was considerably in excess or the number originally asked for from this district, and can only be taken as an indication of the spirit that prevails amono- our young men at the presont time The stamp of men which left* here on Saturday was distinctly good, and, with the training they will receive, they should prove quite a factor in the force. More men will be required for subsequent reinforcements, as well as for the special force mentioned by the Minister of Defence at Wellington the other day. With regard to this special force, the local Defence Office has been instructed to recruit one hundred men of sound

physique and character. It should bo clearly understood that this force is in addition to the ordinary reinforcements which are going forward periodically. At the conclusion of the recent infantry camp at< Tapawera, a large number of men especially.from the Takaka and Motuoka districts, volunteered for service. . For the new force, specialists have not yet been asked for, but men who can carry a rifle and ammunition aro needed.

Word has been received that Mr Alan Bout, who is at present in Egypt as a lk'-utenant\of the Third New Zealand Reinforcements, has been entered on tho Register of the New Zealand Institute of Architects as a "registered architect," and as an -Associate of the Institute is entitled to use the letters A N Z.I.A. .Twenty-three of New Zealand's First Contingent for the South African Warare serving in the present war. All except three of these are now officers. The First Contingent was only 214 strong. Private tv^.n Stafford, son of Mr and Mrs A\\"H. Stafford, of Ruby Bay, who is with Lho Main New Zealand Expedi-* .tionai'y Force in Egypt, was in Platoon iOof the 12th (Nelson) Regiment, which took part in tJic Suez Canal fight. He has forwarded newspaper cuttings of "the description of the engagement to his parents, an'! mentions in a footnote that- he was one of 27 of Platoon 10 wh'i were stationed right opposite to where the Turks launched their boats on thft Canal, fie was also among the Now Zealanders who reinforced the Indians.