TO STIMULATE RECRUITING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22909, 4 January 1940, Page 6

TO STIMULATE RECRUITING

Community Singing In City To-day

FAREWELL APPEARANCE OF CORPORAL MCNAIR

A recruiting "community sing" in the Civic Theatre to-day and a street parade of Class II of the National Military Reserve to-morrow evening were two fixtures arranged by the Canterbury Recruiting Committee at a meeting last evening. Other plans to stimulate recruiting for the 2nd Echelon were made by the committee. . The community singing, which will be the first for 1940, will be led by Corporal W. McNair, of the Rifle Battalion, Ist Echelon, who will - be ' making his farewell appearance as song-leader before leaving for service overseas. The sing will be held from 12 until 2 p.m., and speakers in the interests of recruiting will be the president of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr A. E. Haynes), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. S. Barnett), and Mr S. G. Holland. M.P. Parade Through City i Men of Class II of the National Military Reserve will parade through the city to-morrow evening under.the command of Colonel H. C. Hurst. They will leave the King Edward Barracks at 7.15 p.m., accompanied by two bands, and will march to Cathedral square, where recruiting speeches will be given from the depot. Another fixture planned by the committee is a concert to be held in the Regent Theatre on Sunday, January 14. Cabinet Ministers Wanted The committee decided to ask the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) to send two Cabinet Ministers to Christchurch to address recruiting meetings next week. So that an approach may be made to as many as pos T sible, the committee agreed to ask employers to allow speakers to address employees during working hours, on the subject of recruiting. To arouse further interest throughout the province, the committee will write to all local • bodies and the Returned Soldiers' Association will communicate with its branches asking that meetings be organised and stating that speakers will be provided by the Canterbury committee if they are required. ' An appeal was made for voluntary workers to assist at the recruiting depot in Cathedral square, those prepared to do so being asked to report to Major H. G. Livingstone at the King Edward Barracks.