LOCAL RECRUITING. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. WARNING TO THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS. Recruiting in this State has been proceeding methodically for some time past, and no difficulty whatever is being found in making up the required quota for the expeditionary forces. Applicants for enlistment in all branches of the service are more numerous than the vacancies, and every effort is being made to minimise the possibility of prospective recruits losing employment pending enlistment. With this end in view, country districts and outposts from which volunteers are likely to come, have been circularised so that no confusion may arise when the call for more men comes. The need for further contingents has been stressed from time to time, and inquiries made at the Military Department show that all men anxious to serve at the front will be enlisted provided they are medically fit. Recruiting centres, details of which have already appeared in these columns, were fixed some time back, and, under the system which now obtains, the names of those desirous of enlisting are registered at the different places and the men are then able to return to their work. Each Monday a report as to the enlistments is forwarded to the Military Department from each of the recruiting centres. When men are definitely wanted those who have registered their names are notified and steps are taken to select the required number from those available, the medical inspection taking place in the country districts. By this means men are not put to the expense of throwing up their employment to come to the city where they almost invariably ascertain that recruiting in the metropolis has ceased, and is only being prosecuted in the country districts. In this connection, the following circular has been issued as a warning to prospective recruits: Claims to recover railway and steamer fares have been rendered by recruits travelling on their own accord to enlist in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force. Such expenses, incurred cannot be recouped by the individual. Recruiting officers are requested to promulgate this notice at their stations, also to advise men that the incurrence of such expenditure will not facilitate their enlistment at headquarters, as over 1,000 names are registered at Perth awaiting enlistment. Recruits will be called from all centres in proportion to names registered at all stations; hence the promptitude of the weekly report (due each Monday morning) is very essential. When a call of recruits is authorised from Headquarters a fair proportion should be summoned for medical examination. This should present no difficulty to the recruiting officer in country stations, as he is generally conversant with the physique of the applicants. The exercise of economy in this respect must not prejudice the registration of men anxious to serve, as all men will be enlisted who are medically fit. From what could be gathered from inquiries made yesterday, it would appear that recruiting is, entirely satisfactory as far as Western Australia is concerned. There are about 1,400 men in camp at Blackboy Hill, of whom 755 have been recruited since the commencement of the present year. There have been over 534 men selected from the metropolitan area, and up to date over 2,200 names have been registered for enlistment. For the time being the recruiting since January 1 will be carried on till 900 men have been selected, 755, as already stated, having so far been taken into camp. Naturally, as contingents now preparing for the front take their departure, the facilities for accommodating newcomers will result in further recruits being called up. nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28582063
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:57:00 +0000
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