As was expected, a great shortage occurred, far and away the largest that has yet been experienced.
Every effort will be made to fill the vacancies, and it is hoped that during the next few days as many men as possible who can get away at short notice will report themselves at the group office.
As usual, the Dunedin men assembled at the Kensington Drill Hall, where it was seen that everything was in order so far as every man was concerned in regard to equipment, etc., before he left.
The men were addressed by Colonel E. R. Smith, V.D. (brigadier commanding the Otago Infantry Brigade), and were given some good soldierly advice.
Mrs Macfie, on behalf of the women of the Otago Recruiting Committee, said that she wished to thank the men and honour them for going to the front to relieve and reinforce the tried and weary lads who had gone before them.
She trusted that when the time came, they themselves would have to be rested, volunteers would come forward in sufficient numbers to take their places.
They had the utmost confidence that the men would do their duty, and when they had done that they would have done all that a man and a Britisher could do.
She asked them never to miss an opportunity of writing to their homes, to their parents, and especially to their mothers, and asked that if any of them had lost their mothers they should give in their names, so that the women could write to them from time to time.
She wished them good luck in their righteous errand and a safe return to their loved ones and all the people of this country, who would be waiting to welcome them.
The 14th Reinforcements left with a shortage of 107 - the largest yet recorded in this district.
This is a serious position for any province to be in at a time like this, and it behoves one and all to make a big effort in order at once to make up this deficiency and enable our reinforcements to undergo the full amount of training.
Possibly a large portion of the shortage may be attributable to the lull between the old method and the new scheme put forward by the Government, and which will soon be in operation, but whatever the cause, it should not be.
The call for men has long been imperative, and the necessity has so long been manifest that no man can offer any reasonable excuse for not having given the matter the fullest consideration.
Practically all the other districts have sent forward full quotas, whilst we have a heavy shortage.
Surely this will not be allowed to continue.
At present our men may be enjoying their well-earned rest after their great feats on Gallipoli, but very soon, no doubt, they will be in the thick of the fighting again, and gaps will be made in their ranks.
Greater urgency for men will then be felt, and unless we realise this at once and send men all the time, the penalty will have to be paid by those who now are at the front.
■The employees of the Napier Woollen Mills have just received their war bonus in connection with their work in turning out army contract supplies of khaki, etc.
Similar bonuses have been received by the woollen mill operatives in other parts of the dominion.
This extra pay (says the Hawke's Bay Herald) has proved a great stimulus to the workpeople, who are zealously putting forth their best efforts to meet all requirements. - ODT, 10.3.1916.
