BRITAIN'S MAN-POWER

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13449, 30 March 1917, Page 5

BRITAIN'S MAN-POWER

RE-EXAMINATION AUTHORISED. < (The Times.) Received March 30, 1.50 a.m. LONDON. March 29. The New Army Service Bill empowers the authorities to re-examine all rejected and discharged men, also those previously exempted for foreign service. A COMPLEX PROBLEM. MEN FOR ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY. RECRUITING BELOW ESTIMATE. PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS JEOPARDISED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 30, 12.15 p.m. LONDON, March 29. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law, introducing the Military Service Bill, said the difficulty of apportioning men between the army and essential industries was greater than ever. It was hoppd last autumn that the arr.nv .n'.s would give the requisite ni n for the campaign as then arranged, but the home requirements were so pressing that these expectations were not fulfilled, and the army's needs were obliged to give way. This was chiefly due to the urgency of food production and shipbuilding. The recruits since the new year were 100,000 below the estimate. Some of the shortage could be made up by weeding out for the trenches fit men from behind the firing line. The authorities considered that unless the deficiency is fully made up the prospects of the coming campaign will bo 9criously jeorrjdised. The Bill enables the authorities to deal with 1,000.000 men, and it is estimated that 100,GCO will be fort';.coming in the next three monlhs. The Government has introduced a Bill to enable a review to be made in the cases of all men of military age who have previously been exempted on the ground of rejection from ill-health or who have been discharged from ths Army or Navy. '--.*-.,.- .'