YOUNG MEN RALLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 6

YOUNG MEN RALLY.

Dominion recruiting figures for the week ended January 6—the latest available —are more encouraging than any which preceded them. At that date 20,541 men had enlisted, au increase of 1683 in a week. In conjunction with this must be considered the further heartening fact that at leaat as far as the Northern Military District is concerned the quota for the second echelon haa been reached, und that numbers are accumulating for the third. It looks as though at last the young men of the Dominion have realised that their country has need of thein. As well as tho departure of the first echelon, the visit of Major-General Freyberg, and the appeals made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and other members of the Government, an important factor in accelerated recruiting has certainly been the passing of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Young men who had determined that they would enjoy to the full that last holiday in civilian life for a long time, have now returned to the city prepared to "do their bit." At the same time, though all this is most encouraging, the stimulus to recruiting must not be allowed to fall away. After the third echelon reinforcements will b§ necessary. It might be recalled that in the Great War, to maintain a division and a mounted rifle brigade, the combined war establishment of which was between 25,000 and 30,000, New Zen 111 nil sent away just over 100,000 men. This time, while the Dominion's commitment, 011 paper, is not so great, (lie basis of comparison remains. It would bu well to reulise now, at the outset, that New Zealand's effort has only just begun; and there is a growing opinion which considers that the fairest way to sustain it would be by the compilation of a national register, followed by conscription.