He said that, roughly, the population of the dominion was 1,000,000 men, women, and children. Of that about 500,000 were males, and probably 250,000 of this number were composed of men over 20 years of age.
''What were the lands of the dominion suffering from even before the war?'' he asked.
'They were suffering from the lack of population, and a large proportion of the lands were not being made sufficiently productive through that want. Of the 250,000 males over 20 years of age, the Minister of Defence had stated that 74,000 men had already left on active service, and men were still being sent away. The dead, missing, and prisoners among our soldiers numbered 8353, and a great many men had returned permanently injured and suffering from sickness. Unfortunately many more would have to pay the supreme sacrifice, and of the number who did return to New Zealand after the war a large proportion would be inefficient.
''Of course,'' went on the speaker, ''if the Imperial Government requires the men they must of necessity continue to go, but the Minister of Defence has never yet divulged the arrangements entered into with the Imperial authorities by the dominion as regards the actual call to be made on our man power. If the people of the dominion consider that is a fair attitude for the Minister to take up I certainly do not.''
Wharf security
Acting under instructions from the Imperial authorities, the Otago Harbour Board is now constructing barriers at the end of Victoria wharf. The section barricaded off will be for the berthage of overseas vessels, and guards will be placed at the entrances through the barriers.
Only those who can produce evidence that they have business to transact on the marked off portion, or with the vessel, will be allowed to pass the guards. These precautions are to be taken in view of the suspicion that certain vessels have been destroyed through time bombs being placed on board.
Consequently anyone who suspects that cargo is being tampered with, or that a bomb is to be conveyed direct, as it were, to a steamer, should not hesitate to inform the police at once.
Heavy fighting in Belgium
London: The United Press correspondent at headquarters reports: Heavy fighting continues about both Lens and Ypres. The British at daybreak attacked the positions between Langemarck and Frenzenberg (north-east of Ypres), and the battle is progressing.
The Bavarians and Prussians are fighting desperately amongst the ruins of Lens. The Canadians, despite two violent counter-attacks in rapid succession, succeeded in establishing their advanced posts. The Canadians at one time were fighting into Lens proper, while the Germans came pouring up from concreted cellars and mineshafts like ants from disturbed anthills.
The Crown Prince threw in the Fifth Grenadiers, belonging to the First Prussian Guards Reserve Division. Portions of at least six divisions are concentrated against the Canadians, showing the importance which the German High Command attaches to Lens.
- ODT, 24.8.1917.
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