RECRUITING RALLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 203, 29 August 1939, Page 14

RECRUITING RALLY.

BLENHEIM'S NIGHT PARADE. TOWN IX GALA GARB. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Monday. With one of the largest parades since the Great War. Blenheim to-night combined the official welcome to the teams attending the New Zealand women's hockey championship tournament with a recruiting rally in the interests of the Territorials and the National Reserve. The parade, under LieutenantColonel A. C. Nathan, totalled more than .">OO. including four troops of mounted rifles, national reservists, South African and Great War veterans, members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, women hockey players and teams of other sports clubs and organisations.

The town was brilliantly illuminated and decorated with bunting, and the streets were lined with interested crowds, who warmly applauded the procession. The Mayor. Mr. C. T. Smith, and Mr. K. P. Meachen, M.P., welcomed the visitors.

A recruiting speech was delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. Churchward, who said no doubt there would be a rush to enlist if war broke out. but. unfortunately, the great bulk of the recruits would l>e untrained. He emphasised the need for men enlisting without delay, in order to be trained and prepared if an emergency arose.

A number of men immediately stepped forward and lined up alongside the recruiting sergeant-major.

A spectacular march-past with military and Highland pipe bandte followed. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, telegraphed apologising for his absence oji account of Cabinet business.