New Zealand’s contribution

THE part which New Zealand, the most distant portion of the Empire, has played in the present war, is one of which that small community may be justly proud (states a recent article in the London Times).

New Zealand has sent to the fighting front 99,650 troops of all ranks; another 10,080 are in camp in New Zealand. With the military organisations necessary within her own shores, and the garrison which she maintains at Samoa, together with the men engaged upon work of military importance at home, this army ranks in very high proportion to her population of only 1,150,000, nearly onetenth. All the troopships engaged in transporting this force have been drawn from the New Zealand mercantile marine.

The dominion bears the whole expense of her army, its equipment and maintenance in and out of the field. It does not cost the Motherland a penny. Up to the end of August the expenditure had amounted to over £44,000,000.

Up to the latter period of 1916 volunteer application supplied all the troops required, but in 1916 a system of compulsion was instituted. The South Sea Islanders have enthusiastically contributed their quotas. Without being called upon the Niue Islanders have enthusiastically sent away with the New Zealand forces 148 men, Rarotonga 308, the Gilbert Islands 25, and Fiji a platoon. The New Zealand Maoris maintain a full battalion at the front out of their population of 49,000.