TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 138, 23 March 1935, Page 6

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

A RECRUITING CAMPAIGN. AN APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, March 22. (Simultaneously with the recruiting campaign to increase the numerical strength of the Territorial Force, the New Zealand Territorial Association is appealing for financial support and is urging employers to allow men time off to attend Territorial camps. The Auckland metropolitan area has not yet been able to parade more than 500 men of all units, whereas the asociation says it should produce more than 2000. This position is believed to be general in the Dominion. Colonel Duigan, officer commanding the Northern Command, stated to-day that the command strength was now about 3200 men, who were very keen, and commanded by excellent officers. Most of the seniors had war service, he said. It was mainly to employers that the association’s appeal was made. Territorial training was hampered because only about half could get leave to attend camps. Some employers were not sympathetic to the idea of militai;. training; others said the employees should use their holidays to attend the camps. Only one firm in Auckland granted employees leave on full pay to attend camps, . .. Colonel Duigan said that m danger, property owners had the most to lose, and they should look upon Territorial training as a national insurance. ......