The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1915. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144857, 8 December 1915, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1915. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

The preliminary announcement with respect to the national register discloses the fact that there are still nearly 60,000 single men of military age in the Dominion who aro willing to join the expeditionary forces if required. Of these about two-thirds are men without dependents. In addition there arc nearly GO,OOO married men who aro willing to serve if required. After making a liberal allowance for men who are unable to pass the medical tests it is clear that there are ample reserves upon which to draw for a long time to fill the reinforcements. The four-weekly requirement now is 2400 men, so that to keep up the present rate for a year will need 31,200 men physically fit. The single men should bo able to supply these quite easily, especially considering that every month that passes provides a further throe hundred lads who attain the military age. The married men who are willing to join will be able, if necessary, to maintain the reinforcement supply for at least another year. Further than that, it is probable that a large number of those who have registered as not prepared to volunteer for active service, but willing to serve in a civil capacity, would, in a grave emergency come forward for military service. It will thus be seen that there is no reason to fear a breakdown of the voluntary system of recruiting, provided that there is not a large proportion of shirkers among those who state that they are not prepared to serve in any capacity. Should it be demonstrated that of the 34,386 in this class , a great number are able if they were willing to serve, then possibly the willing men might hold back in order to compel the

unwilling to servo. Probably, however, a great majority of the 34,386 have perfectly legitimate grounds for registering as unprepared to serve. It is more than likely too that many of them have so registered, not from any unwillingness to serve, but because to do so would mean a very great sacrifice which only a national emergency would justify them in making, and because they thought that if they registered as prepared they could not offer any 'excuse to he passed over until the class with no ties was exhausted. Doubtless there are shirkers, but no one will envy them fhe.ir feelings. The essential fact disclosed by the register is that there are ample men prepared to volunteer to keep up the strength of our expeditionary force for a longer period than the war is likely to last. The fact that the Eleventh Reinforcements are not Vet up to full strength does not, disturb this conclusion in the least, for it was only announced a few days ago that several hundreds of men were required. These arc already forthcoming, but there will bo some defections at the last moment, so that an additional three hundred men are asked for to go into camp next week. It can easily bo understood also that many men have been holding off until after the Christmas holidays, hut most of those will bo prepared to sacrifice the holidays when they understand the position. With over 100,000 men of military age willing to join the expeditionary forces there need bo no fear thfit New Zealand will make default in the matter of fulfilling its military obligations.