RECRUITING FOR ARMY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 11

RECRUITING FOR ARMY

RESPONSE OF YOUNG MEN MINISTER SATISFIED WITH RESULTS FAVOURABLE COMPARISON / WITH 1914 "The fact that we have 15,000 men' overseas or in camp and that the 3rd Echelon, plus special reinforcements, is ready to go into camp, shows that the young men of New Zealand have responded remarkably well to the call to arms,” said the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) wheh he was interviewed by “The Press.” Difficulty was experienced, said the Minister, in making any comparison between the recruiting figures for 1939-1940 and 1914 for the sevenmonth period. The figures for this war appeared most favourable m comparison, however, when it was considered that in the last war enlistment was open to men from 19 to 45 years and that in the intervening years the population of New Zealand had increased by 500.000. Indicative of the enthusiam in New Zealand was that the Army had sufficient recruits to fill the 3rd Echelon and also the special reinforcements, but the department was anxious to provide the number of men. required to cover also any possible wastage in camps and to build up , the expeditionary force with later reinforcements. . , ... „ ’“lt is well to remind the public, he said,' “that the age for enlistment has been raised from 35 to 40 years, and that, no doubt, will give an opportunity for many of those turned down In the past to join up." Territorials Enlist Fully 75 per cent, of the soldiers now serving were single men. A splendid response had been made from the Territorial Force, which had provided 678 officers and 2500 noncommissioned officers and men. As the pre-war establishment of officers in the Territorial Force was 999. the percentage of enlistments could only be described as remarkable. Because of their age, many in the Territorial Force were not eligible for overseas service, but already V2 officers and 83 men of other ranks had been engaged on coast defence and anti-aircraft battery work. , Reports showed that the public of Dunedin. Invercargill. and West Coast towns had appreciated the visit of the troops from Burnham this -week. The men had created a fine impression, and he believed that the oarades in those centres away from the training base would have a wonderfully beneficial effect on recruiting. The Dunedin district (No. 11 Area) had secured its quota for the 3rd Echelon, after filling slowly its nuota for the 2nd Echelon, and he believed that recruiting w’ould be.given an impetus by the parades which had been held. ~ CITY ENLISTMENTS TWELVE REGISTRATIONS ON 5 SATURDAY Saturday’s enlistments (two names not being for publication) were:— W. J. Brough. J. Douglas. L. H. Ellis. C.' W. Goodger. A. Jones. H. H. Newey, E. W. Reed, T. Thorpe, S. B. Turnbull. • W. J. Whitla ‘TiMARU ■ TIMARU, April 20. The latest enlistment fit Timaru is:— C. W. Probert. WESTPORT WESTPORT, April 21. The latest enlistment at Westport is--1 lan Iredale, GREYMOUTH GREYMOUTH, April 20. ■ One enlistment at Greymouth today raised the district total to 582. The recruit was W. McK. Fairhall. Since the last sitting of the medical board on April 2, there have been 34 effective enlistments at Greymouth. CANTERBURY RECRUITS FOR THIRD ECHELON Representatives from nearly 20 business. professional, and labour organisations will -take part at a meeting to be held this evening at the. Chamber of Commerce hall, in discussion on ways and means ot obtaining Canterbury’s quota for the 3rd Echelon. It is expected that a large number will be present, and the. committee invites all those Interested to attend.