RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 151, 29 June 1939, Page 12

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

OVER 1000 JOIN IN MONTH.

MANY WILLING TO SERVE. "It should l>e a point of pride for all sections of the community to support the Prime Minister and Major-General J. E. Duigan in making the official recruiting campaign a success," states the Army League. "Official statements make it clear that when the Government increased the peace-time establishment of the Territorial Army to approximately 16,000 it was acting in accordance with the recommendations of military experts at th« Pacific Defence Conference. Earlier this week the Chief of the General Staff, Major-General J. E. Duigan, stated that the territorial strenprth at the end of May was 10,600. a total of 1000 extra volunteers having joined up in that month. The present strength was approximately 12,000. "This means that during the two months May-June at least 2400 recruits have come forward. Allowing for wastage through retirement, posting to reserves, etc v an increase of at least 1000 a month is indicated. At this rate the new establishment of 16,000 will be reached by the end of October. But with an official recruiting campaign being inaugurated, it is reasonable to assume that the new peace-time establishment will be reached at an earlier date.

"Inquiries received recently by the Army League indicate that there are still" nuinlters of young men eager to join up. who only require encouragement and information to bring them to the recruiting office. Organised recruiting campaigns in country district? arc being undertaken, and judging by the correspondence we have received from rural areas, the effort should Ito successful. "Having discussed the matter with a great number of territorials, the Army League can say that most territorials favour the present system of training against compulsory service. The serving territorial is quite willing to do his part, and believes that official and private encouragement will soon bring in tlie men required."