PARLIAMENT Mr Connolly Satisfied With Army Recruiting

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28980, 22 August 1959, Page 14

PARLIAMENT Mr Connolly Satisfied With Army Recruiting

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 21. “I am completely satisfied with the recruiting figures to date, and I am confident that by the end of the present financial year, the Territorial Force will have the target strength of 7000,” said the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) in the House of Representatives today during discussion of the vote in the Estimates for the Army Department. Mr Connolly said in reply to Opposition members that on August 17, there were 5143 members serving in the Regular Force—the highest number ever. The Territorial Force had risen from 2884 all ranks at March 31 last to 4878 and there were 530 further volunteer applications “awaiting processing.” He said he believed that between 6000 and 7000 volunteers would be in camps by January next year.

Mr T. P. Shand (Opposition, Marlborough) said he wished Mr Connolly well in the recruiting campaign and said, “I hope he will get the numbers he anticipates. I am very much assured by the figures he has given." Mr Connolly, replying to Mr C. G. E. Harker (Opposition, Hawke’s Bay) who referred to

the recruiting scheme as the Minister’s, said that it was not his scheme, but the Army’s. Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, Fendalton): It’s not the Army’s scheme) It’s the Government’s scheme. If it’s a success, the Minister will take the credit, but if it isn’t he wiU blame the Army. Mr Connolly. No, I won’t