TARANAKI RECRUITING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11948, 6 March 1917, Page 3

TARANAKI RECRUITING.

to vsa »ai*oK. gir,—-A few* days ago the newepa-pw*i published a report of some very direct remarks made by a member o). the Alilitary riorvico Board to it Taranaia dairy farmer, a»<l it was made to appear ttnu Taranaki was not doing its duty in tlic matter of providing men. To quite b-ir Joseph Ward. •' What. do ibe records sjjii; j"' 1 would like to icier you to the figures published in the '' Lyttoifou Tunes '' to-day, setting out tit© position of voluntary 'recruiting tor the Twen-ty-ninth Reinforcements. Out- of 111 men a«ked for in Taranaki. sk>: ty-i-wo v; f ,m obtained by Voluntary enlistmom-. No <*onnJrv i*'Ci'Ui!.ini:'; aistnc;- app< c] thai, fiauro. Only Auckland Citv ami Wellington City bear- tli<* total or Kixi.v-uvo. aud only Wellington City the percent-age of volunteers. Taranaki contributed more vnhinu-cvs than Ohrir-tchurch, North (;aiu-erbury, South Canterbury, Nelson. North Otaco. Southland and Oiulba all P ul together. These district* « ; ere asked for and 57 volunteered ; Taranaki ior Hi', and fc! volunteeredln fairness to the district which had to supply PonUt Island shortages enrly in the war, T should bke you to publish these deductions from the figures. _ Mac I mention ahe that the Minister of Defenco has sine'* given a Taranaki deputation to understand that, in the event of a second hoard being: required adairy i'artrer «hou!d Ke ap!>ointcd to it, lie boino; imores-'-ed by nroofs that the Military 8.-.* rd member who passed toe strioturei upon Tarana'fct was speakinp wifhouf- any knowledge of the conditions ; ~iht'in r : uoou tho Taranaki dairy fanners?' T jun, etc., | HITATOKI. March 6.