RECRUITING FOR ARMY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 8

RECRUITING FOR ARMY

NATIONAL SERVICE PROPOSALS DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 15. Opposition speakers asked unsuccessfully in the House of Representatives to-day for a statement of Government policy on army recruiting, for which the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) had suggested compulsory service. Mr P. G. Connolly (Government, Dunedin Central) expressed his personal support for compulsory service. Mr Connolly said he had always stood for compulsory military service and always would stand for it. He went through that form of service himself while working 48 hours a week as an apprentice and attending technical school four nights a week. On tne fifth night he attended territorial parades. _ The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland): And you’re none the worse for it. . Mr Connolly: No. I’m not. I think it would be for the benefit of the youth of the country if we put them into camps for 14 weeks as nas been proposed for physical training and also to give them some discipline. Opposition voices: Hear, hear. Mr Connolly said discipline was needed by the youth of all countries. He thought the scheme outlined last night by the Minister of Defence would be approved by most people in New Zealand.

Mr J. N. Massey (Opposition, Franklin) said that while the House welcomed Mr Jones’s statement on defence it was not sufficiently clear as to Government policy, especially on the vital question of compulsory training. Sir Joseph Ward’s Government in 1929 was kept in office for a time by the Labour Party and the firice their leader (the late Mr H. E. Holland) had demanded was repeal of the Compulsory Military Service Act. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will deny that,” said Mr Massey.

Mr Fraser: Yes, I will. There was no price and no understanding. It is only fair to the late Sir Joseph Ward to say that. Mr Massey asked for a clear statement of the Government’s policy on defence. If the National Party were in office it would see .that New land contributed to the limit to Empire defence, believing as it did that a strong British Empire was absolutely essential to world peace. The Opposition believed in less talk about the United Nations and more about maintaining a strong Empire.

SOLDIERS’ VIEWS

DOUBTS ABOUT NUMBERS (P.A.) * AUCKLAND, July 15. Whatever scheme was adopted it must be compulsory and universal, saic : Major-General P. H. Bell, D. 5.0., former Officer Commanding the Northern Military District, commenting on the proposals for a territorial army made by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones). He would be disappointed if all units the military authorities felt necessary for an adequate defence force were not filled. He felt that 8000 recruits a year would not fill up the units required.

"Everyone will welcome the new proposals for the territorial army,” said Major-General H. E. Barrowclough, C. 8., D.S.O. and bar, M.C., former commander of the 3rd New Zealand Division. “It must be obvious, however, that they can be achieved only by the adoption of universal, compulsory training, and I hope there will be no hesitation in coming to that conclusion. “An official of a learned institution in this city has already expressed the view that students will naturally be exempt. If that fallacious idea is not immediately extinguished, all sorts of groups will be talking themselves out of their obligations. What is good enough for one is good enough for all. “In place of camps I would prefer to see exercises or manoeuvres m the field, which would reproduce as near as possible real active service conditions.”

REACTION TO PROPOSAL

COMMENT GENERALLY FAVOURABLE

Business interests, servicemen’s organisations and military authorities yesterday generally welcomed the scheme for national service as propounded by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening. An officer at Southern Military District headquarters said that Burnham was equipped and ready to play any part allotted to it. To be successful a military training scheme had to be compulsory from the outset, said Mr H. E. Batchelor, president of the Christchurch• Returned Services’ Association. The New Zealand Returned Services’ Association had been pressing for some time for a concrete scheme, and he felt that the Government would receive the support of former servicemen to make the scheme a success. “If national service is introduced training periods will have to be staggered so that farming programmes win not be upset,” said Mr J. W. Earl, president of the North Canterbury branch of Federated Farmers. “The farming industry could not stand a heavy call-off of men from the land during periods when seasonal work is at its height, and to do so would be very short-sighted as such action could have far-reaching repercussions in the country.” The farming community did not wish to avoid its responsibilities in any way, but would co-operate to the fullest extent to ensure the smooth working of a sound defence scheme, Mr Earl said. It was agreed that the future was uncertain, and that measures should be taken so that the country w* id not be caught unaware. Chamber of Commerce Remit ‘The very important question of compulsory training for youths has received the consideration of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand at its annual conferences for several years past, and last year ana again in the preceding year—remgs were passed requesting the Government to adopt a plan,” said the president (Mr J. R. Dench). “It is noteworthy that these remits were moved, seconded and supported by returned servicemen of both world wars, and in 1946 the following remit was moved, ‘That the attention of the Government should be drawn to the need for a definite plan which S sor5 or future defence of New Zealand and for appropriate training for youth.’ ” At that time, when the war was ended it was emphasised that all must be prepared to make certain vain gr !uV acr i! fi( l es ha? not been in vain. Although it might be said that there would not be another war for years, the Government should make preparation for defence plans immediately, as trouble would come when least expected. only , answer to the world’s problem is placing a decisive force at the disposal of the United Nations, and m this respect New Zealand could set an example by supplying her quota, if such is found necessary, to enforce international law,” Mr Dench said. That is the primary reason and justification for any defence force at all.” To defend the pountry against aggressors during the period of transition from national to international machinery an adequate force was needed, and it was also necessary to act promptly so that men and equipment could be mobilised immediately, before the standard of efficiency reached disappeared. A training scheme would develop the team spirit which held the British Empire together. The conference this year reaffirmed the urgent need for preparing and putting into effect a comprehensive scheme of defence, with due regard to the requirements of the three services, Mr Dench concluded. The proposed scheme was unlikely to cause more than a minimum of disruption in industry, said the president

of the Canterbury Employers’ Association (Mr W. G. V. Fernie), as the limited age group would mean that few firms would have a large number absent from work at any one time. Previously employers had visualised that some employees would be Sway for at least one year on initial training, and then one month a year for five years. Support for the proposal was also expressed by Colonel H. C. Hurst, Mr A. Henderson, acting-president of’ the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and Mr A. E. Collins, president of the Christchurch Young Men’s Christian Association. Mr Colling- expressed the opinion that emphasis should be placed on physical fitness, correct discipline, and fostering a spirit of service that could be brought back into civilian life.