DEFENCE FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1938, Page 8

DEFENCE FORCE

STRONGER ONE

NEEDED

APPEAL BY COLONEL MEAD

The need for a strong voluntary Territorial defence force in New Zealand was stressed by Colonel C. H. Mead, Officer Commanding the Northern Military District, in an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club, reports the "New Zealand Herald." Colonel Mead said there were 439,000 men between the ages of 17 and 55 in New Zealand, and of this number he estimated that from 150,000 to 200,000 were fit for military service of some1 kind and could form an effective defensive fighting force. „

The speaker referred to the inadequacy of New Zealand's land force and stressed the importance of building this force up to a state of efficiency. He appealed to his hearers to give every encouragement to the young men who had joined the Territorials.

Colonel Mead quoted an instance where men left their uniforms at a house near barracks and changed just before and after going on parade. They did this because they were sensitive of the jeers and adverse criticism they would receive if they passed through the streets in uniform. Colonel Mead said the public were apathetic towards the Territorial movement, and he appealed to the members of the Rotary Club to use their influence to break dowji this lack of interest. The youths were not to blame for failing to join up. It was those in their homes who had failed to encourage them.