RECRUITING FOR ARMY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25550, 19 July 1948, Page 2

RECRUITING FOR ARMY

Sir, —The secretary of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, Wellington, has sharply criticised Major-General Barrowclough’s views on recruiting for the army. This recalls the latter’s April 6 verdict on the then plans for army organisation, and in particular: “There is an ominous suggestion that the scheme will be determined by the limitation of manpower and finance.” Why not? The military mind, with some notable exceptions, e.g., General Smuts and General Marshall, seems to be incapable of thinking of anything but militarism. Adequate defence we must have, but New Zealand’s contribution thereto in a global war (and we are not likely to have a “localised” one) is paramountly in producing foodstuffs and clothing. This was abundantly proved in the last war, especially in its later stages. Simultaneously, we learned our mistake in allowing the military authorities to have any say in the disposition of manpower. That belongs to economic statesmanship.—Yours, etc., W. R. EARLY. Hornby, July 17, 1948.