cessity of facilitating this process and rendering it
more easy. We do not think the time has come in which we ought in any
way to relax our recruiting efforts, [cheers,] and when people tell me,
as they do every day, "These recruits are coming in in their tens of
thousands; you are being blocked by them and you cannot provide
adequately either for their equipment or for their training," my answer
is, "We shall want more rather than less, and let us get the men,"
[Cheers.] That is the first necessity of the State--let us get the men.
Knowing as we all do the patriotic spirit which now, as always--now, of
course, with increased emphasis and enthusiasm--animates every class of
the community, I am perfectly certain they will be ready to endure
hardship and discomforts for the moment if they are satisfied that
their services are really required by the State, and that in due course
of time they will be supplied with adequate provision for training and
equipment and for rendering themselves fit for taking their places in
the field.

Two Important Steps.

With that object a few days ago--and the process is now in complete
operation--a very important step was taken which I am sure will be
generally welcomed by the committee and by the country--whenever it is
necessary to allow men who are recruited and have gone through the
process of attestation, medical examination, and actual enrollment, so
that they are not only potential but actual members of the regular
army--to allow these men to go back to their own homes until the
occasion arises for them to be called upon for actual training. In that
way we hope to relieve--indeed relief has already been given and will be
given more amply in the near future--the undoubted block and congestion
which have taken place in certain districts to the natural
disappointment of the men who have come forward under an impulse of
public duty to serve their country and, finding themselves sent back
home and put for the time being in the reserve, have felt perhaps that
their services were not duly appreciated by the country. That, I think,
the committee will agree is a very important step in advance. I have to
announce another step which I believe will give universal satisfaction
and will go a long way to solve the practical difficulty, such as it is.
We propose from today that there shall be given to those recruits for
whom we are unable to find accommodation for the time being 3s. per day.
[Chee