Defence League President Urges To join Army

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 11

Defence League President Urges To join Army

(Kn> ZMlatuf Press AuoeiatWn) ( • *

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. "Success of vohmtary taeruitlng J iwuntry ta left the preridant of tad’NsswZealand ' everything in its power .to encour- 1 laid : before Parliament, in June * last ye*r, fhe New Zealand, Army . for the, future is to consist of -a static regular foree ’of 2500 and a regular brigade group compris- ' ing 4169 men in combat arina and , 1450 in service units, giving a total , regular force of 8119.” said Briga- ' dier Robinson. “In addition there its to be a territorial force esti- ' mated to total 7000 all ranks. . “Thus' the Army if'to consist , Of, two elements, a regular force tad a territorial force, both alike : dependent on voluntary' enlistment. - ■ “The backbone '“’of the' whole scheme is the. Regular Force,” continued Brigadier Robinsori. “To get sufficient recruits for it is vital, tad I urge young men of intelligence, hardihood, and patriotism to choose the noble calling of anhs as a career. I urge parehts, employers, the trade unions and the public generally to give every encouragement to recruitment for the Regular Force. “At the //ante time, oh behalf, of the Defence League, I wish to impress on the Government the vital necessity of making the rates of pay and conditions of service really attractive. Past experience in New Zealand and overseas plainly shows-that the right type of man will not enlist in sufficient

trfunbeik in peatie time in a regular army unless the pay for all Irtata ifi *t l®>*t equivalent to that obtainable in alternative civilian pay are really good, and u a ; result the numbers are adequate. The same ia not at* present true in New Zealand. "The second element, the Territorial Force, will in the long run prove af greta, pethtas of equal, importance,” said Brigadier Robinson. "Estimated to number 7000 all ranks it has' itr special importance in providing the nucleus for expansion in the event of large-scale war. It will preserve (in smaller measure) the , tradition of New Zealand's citizen army, which has served New Zealand outstandingly in two world wars. “I exhort young men of all sections of the community to come forward and volunteer for the Territorial Force, and I urge the public to support and encourage such volunteer* in every possible way, _ Compulsory Scheme “The Defence League will continue to advocate the reintroduction ’hi: compulsory military trainlng. The estimated numbers for th* Territorial Force will not be adequate in the event of lergescalewar.* In buta, circumstances New Zealand is committed to contribute a dlviatta. plus ancillary troops, s which tak* tiijta. to teain, and there, tnay npt <g”ttme. But meanwhile voluntary service is essential to. ensure at' Istart .some nucleus .'tad some iorm'sta de- | fence being readily available.' ’