DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 16, 19 July 1939, Page 12

DEFENCE OF N.Z.

RECRUITING FIGURES

"VERY SATISFACTORY"

CENTRAL DISTRICT

Satisfaction at the progress of recruiting in the Central Military District was expressed by the Officer Commanding (Colonel E. Puttick) in a statement to "The Post" today. He referred to the fact that peace establishment of all units had very nearly been reached and said he had no doubt that the numbers would show a still further considerable increase. "The recruiting situation in the Central District as revealed by the latest figures—July 18—is very satisfactory," he said, "the more so as particular emphasis has continually been placed on the necessity for accepting only men up to standard, on avoiding any over-persuasion to enlist,! and on ensui'ing that all prospective! recruits know what service is expected of them and that they are expected to regard it as a matter of honour to perform that service.

"If all concerned with recruits adhere to these principles, we can confidently expect that the progress indicated by figures is real and solid and will be reflected in increased efficiency of units later in the year when the I training has had its effect.

I "One immediate result of the improved recruiting situation is that 287 recruits wish to attend the six days' recruit course at Trentham next week, which is 107 more than can be accommodated and adequately trained. These recruit courses are held monthly, but a supplementary course will be held to cope with the larger numbers now offering.

INTERESTING POINTS

"The recruiting figures reveal the following interesting points:— "The Central Military District has, according to the latest figures available a strength of 224 officers and 4532 other yanks, exclusive of bands, which provide a further 5 officers and 161 other ranks.. This is only 88 officers and 44 other ranks below peace establishment. The present shortage in the active list of 88 officers is due principally to the recent expansion of the mounted rifle and infantry units which have suitable men available for commissions, to be granted after passing the necessary examination. There are, in addition, nearly 300 officers on the Reserve of Officers, who would be available in the event of an emergency. In the figures which follow officers and bands are not included: —

Mounted Rifles,

"Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles, headquarters Hawera, is now 46 over peace establishment, with a strength of 372. All its drill centres are full with the exception of Purangi, where one more man is required, Toko which requires seven, and Ohakune where a centre has yet to be opened, 26. Of the! centres which are full Tikorangi is 30 over strength, Opunake 26 over, almost double strength in both cases.

"Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles, headquarters Gisborne, is 58 over its peace establishment, with a strength of 384. All centres are full with the exception of Gisborne which requires one man. and Wairoa (recently opened), which requires seven men. Seven of its centres are each nine men over strength.

"Manawatu Mounted Rifles (Palmerston North), the motorised regiment, with a strength of 163, is 34 below peace establishment. Palmerston North requires 10 men and Foxton (recently opened) requires 24 men for this unit. Its remaining three centres—Levin, Marton, and Hunterville—are full.

Artillery.

"The seven batteries in the district have a total strength of 827, or 34 over peace establishment. All the batteries are over-strength with the exception of the 15th Heavy Battery, Wellington, which requires 19 men, and the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battery, Wellington, which requires 15 men. The sth Battery, Wellington, is 32 over strength, and the 19th Medium Battery, Wellington, is 16 over strength.

Engineers and Signals.

"The 2nd Field Company, N.Z. Engineers, Wellington, has a strength of 111, or 21 below establishment. The Signal Company, Wellington, is exactly full strength at 126.

Infantry.

"The Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own), with a strength of 662, is 66 over strength. "The Wellington-West Coast Regiment (Wanganui) has a strength of 474 or 122 below establishment. Wanganui has 257 men and requires a further 25. Palmerston North has 45 men and requir •.; 94 more. Feilding, with 79, requires two. Taihape has 60 and wants another three, while Marton, with 33 men, is two over strength

"The Hawke's Bay Regiment (Napier) is 12 over establishment with a strength of 608. Masterton, with 103 men, requires 5, and Gisborne, with 160, requires 19. Napier has 154 U0 over), Hastings 130 (24 over), and Dannevirke 61 (2 over).

"The Taranaki Regiment (New Plymouth) has a strength of 469—127 below establishment. Nev Plymouth, with 149 men, requires a further 79, Waitara. with 35, requires 23, Kaponga has 19 and is 10 short. Eltham, with 22. needs 19 more, and Manaia. with 12. requires a further 17.

•"B' Company. N.Z. Scottish (Wellington) is three over establishment with a strength of 119.

A.S.C. and Medical,

"No. 2 Company, N.Z.A.S.C. (Wellington) is 119 strong, a surplus! of 24.

"The 2nd Field Ambulance (Wellington) has a detachment of 39 at Napier (13 over strength), and with 59 at Wellington (one over strength) has a total strength of 98 —14 over strength

"The situation by centres is also interesting. Wellington City and suburbs is required to fi:.d 1647 men and has 1739. a surplus of 92. Wanganui is allotted 282 and has 257. Palmerston North has 187 and requires a further 94. Napier is 30 over strength with a total of 274. and Hastings is also over strength by 25 with a total of 157 Masterton has 138 (fou over strength). Gisborne 244 (18 surplus), and Hawera 136 (19 surplus). New Plymouth has a strength of 149 and requires a further 79. In these large centres, somewhat comparable in population, there are striking variations in the number of troops so far provided.

"The majority of the smaller centres are over establishment. Several, such as Feilding (79), Taihape (60). Marton (65). Dannevirke (61). Tikorangi (64), Rapotu-Opunake (52), Waverley. (56), Inglewood-Tariki (61), and Stratford (65) show surprisingly good results and

are.an example to some of.the largei towns.

ROOM AT ALL CENTRES,

"I would like to emphasise that the comparisons made are between tho peace establishments and the number of men enlisted. ( AH units are, however, authorised' ;o recruit up to w;ir establishment and there is. therefore, room at all centres throughout the district for additional men.

"No one need, therefore, hold back because the figures given here show that the strength allotted to his particular centre has been reached or exceeded.

"Owing to the limited staff available it' has not been possibla to open dnJl centres at every centre of population. Men in those centres and in the back country will, if they enlist, receive a special training covering 14 days' consolidated training at Trenthanv in lieu of the ordinary out-of-camp training, and will also attend the six days', annual camp of .their unit.

"The results so far are most encouraging and must be very gratifying, to the Territorial officers, n.c.0.5,. and men who have stuck to their- units steadfastly throughout ,the 'lean* years, and who have been working,hartf to build up their units. The Territorial regimental associations throughout the distrct have been extremely • active, and a good dear of the credit for the healthy recruiting situation is due to them. . ■ : • ;■

PROBLEMS FOR REGULAR STAFF.

"The Regular Forces—N.Z.. Staff Corps, N.Z. Permanent Staff, Royal N.Z. Artillery, and N.Z. Permanent Army Service Corps—are faced with big training and administrative prpblems in connection with ( both tlie Territorial units and the National Military Reserve, but I know that they ; wijl maintain the fine traditions of their respective corps and show the same devotion as in the pas+.

"The measures at present being taken to reinforce the staff should give some relief in the- near future and enable further assistance to be given to units in reaching the highest possible state of efficiency. . . ; .

"As an indication of the difference between peace and war establishment, it may be mentioned that the 15th Heavy Battery, the unit stationed at Fort Dorset, will require an increase of well over 200 men to bring it up. to war establishment. This is. due in part to the highly technical nature of the work in connection with the manning of the-fort. To ensure that these men are trained while the opportunity is available a special recruiting drive will shortly be launched, under the guidance of the unit association recently formed for this purpose, ta secure the men as soon as possible." NATIONAL RESERVE ENROLMENTS TOTAL 14,341 The total enrolments in the New Zealand National Military Reserve up to 9 a.m. today were 14,341, the. figures for the various classes being as follows:—Class I, 1862; class n {returned soldiers), 5678; class 111, 4382; ineligible, 2419. Particulars for the various postal districts place, Wellington first with 1920 applications, Auckland next with 1903, Christchurch third with 1687, Hamilton fourth with 1187. and Napier fifth with 1095. Next .ia order are: Dunedin, 999; Wariganui, 847; and Invercargill, 725. • ' . .