THE SEARCH FOR RECRUITS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14656, 9 March 1918, Page 2

THE SEARCH FOR RECRUITS.

i Recruits, in Australia, like every- . thing else in "the ■ Commonwealth, are steadily increasing in price (writes the , Sydney correspondent of the "Post"). For months past they have been pretty costly j it is estimated that taking the

irarious ramification? of the recruiting organisation into consideration, they ;ost the State in some districts £100 ?ac.h. Still, men must be had, and so the State is bidding higher. ]leve are the Government's latest decisions, just announced by the Prime Minister: A High Court Judge is to be appoint--3d to ascertain the number of recruits required.. A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Defence is to be appointed to administer the recruiting movement, and to.review and ' overhaul existing recruiting organisations. ' \ The separation allowance will be increased by 33 1-3 per cent. Deferred pay," sitter being twelve month® in the hands of the Defence Department, will carry interest at the rate of 4£ per cent. Cards are to Tie distributed ?to all men between the ages of 19 and 44, asking for information, regarding nge, occupation, and enlistment, and asking a definite question as to whether the man addressed is prepared, provided a given number of men in his area agree to submit fJieir names to a ballot, to submft his name to such ballot, and to enlist if and when the ballot results in his name being chosen in the quota for any month. Enlisted men, after a short period in camp, will be given leave on pay to canvass for recruits among eligibles in their own locality. The Government will invite and approve schemes for the payment of insurance premiums by patriotic citizens, to cover cases of death or total disablement of soldiers. Payment will-be made to recruiting sergeants of a bonus of 10s for each recruit finally enlisted. Action will be taken to organise women for recruiting purposes. Returned soldiers are to replace eligibles wherever possible in the Government Departments, A special magistrate is to be appointed to enquire into cases of persons of enemy birth in the Commonwealth Government employ, and to submit a recommendation as to their continuance or otherwise in such employment.