The Dominion FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939. AN URGENT CALL FOR RECRUITS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 233, 30 June 1939, Page 8

The Dominion FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939. AN URGENT CALL FOR RECRUITS

The Prime Minister has addressed “to every patriotic New Zealander’’ an urgent call for service in an appropriate capacity for the defence of the nation. To “all young men of spirit” he has made a special appeal that they should come forward for enrolment in the Territorial Force. The appeal is necessary. Although there has been a fairly good response in some parts of the country, the numbers are still considerably short of the requirements. In spite of the commendable spirit of service shown by ex-soldiers in responding to the call, young men of the age and type required for active training in the Territorial land forces seem to be hanging back.

The voluntary system is on trial. Unless there is a substantial improvement in the recruiting figures there will be no alternative but to,revert to the system of national compulsory training instituted before the Great War under an Act of Parliament which has never been repealed. One .of the chief virtues of this legislation was that obligation to train was made universal. The voluntary system enables those who are unwilling to serve to shirk their duty to their country and throw upon those who have a higher conception of their responsibilities as citizens an unfair burden.

It might be possible to make a success of the voluntary system — to the extent at least that the numbers required for the Territorial Force and the two classes of reserves could be raised —if all concerned could be brought to realize the extreme gravity of . the international situation. When responsible statesmen in the United Kingdom and France give public expression to thqir apprehensions of a serious war crisis in the very near future, it may be taken for granted that they are acutely conscious of the dangerous possibilities inherent in the present state of international tension, and of the need for being prepared for grave emergencies. The French Premier yesterday, and Mr. Winston Churchill today, both voice impressive warnings concerning the menace that threatens the democracies in the present period of international stress. The gravity of the outlook, moreover, has been accentuated by the crisis which has developed between Britain and Japan in the Far East. The danger .zone has thus been enlarged, and brought nearer our own shores. Throughout the Brit ... Empire preparations are being made to meet the emergency. South Africa has announced compulsory universal training. Australia is pushing ahead vigorously with, a great recruiting campaign and is spending huge sums in defensive preparations. A special session of the Canadian Parliament has been summoned to consider the situation. In New Zealand a paltry 16,000 men are required for the Territorial Force, and our young men are hanging back. We may be remotely situated, but the danger of attack in another war is far more likely than it was in the last. Our utmost resources, and the patriotic services of all eligible age-groups, must be organized as speedily as possible.