RECRUITS WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1939, Page 10

RECRUITS WANTED

SPECIAL FORCE

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

A national recruiting campaign aimed at obtaining sufficient medically fit men before January 12 to make up the strength of the second echelon of the Special Force and also to provide a nucleus for the third echelon is being commenced this week following on the recent statement of the requirements by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). The co-operation of the Press, the Returned Soldiers' Association, local bodies, and other organisations is being sought, and associated with this will be a Dominion-wide advertising scheme making use of the newspapers and a series of striking posters which will be displayed in all public places. Direct contact between the Army authorities and those organisations being asked to assist will be made by military district publicity officers, and the Dominion campaign will be under the direction of Major R. E. Murray, Army Publicity Officer, who will be the connecting link between the Central Recruiting Committee, of which Mr. Jones is chairman, Army Headquarters, and district Headquarters. Full use is also to be made of the National Broadcasting Service and a series of addresses has been arranged. There will also be short talks by unit commanders of the second echelon. Registration forms for recruiting purposes will be available at all Post Offices, railway stations, and prominent public places in the principal cities, and it is also proposed to establish a recruiting depot in the heart of the business centre of each city. In each centre the services" of* the National Patriotic Council, Returned Soldiers' Associations, Territorial Associations, Red Cross Societies, and similar bodies will be utilised as far as they are available. TRAVELLING RECRUITING OFFICERS. To cater for men in outlying dis-1 tricts, especially where large bodies of men are employed such as in Public Works Department and Forestry Department camps, at sawmills and mines, and in other occupations, arrangements have been made for travelling recruiting officers and medical boards who will arrange for medical examination of recruits on the spot. The campaign will be given its biggest impetus this week at civic receptions and farewells' to members of the Special Force arranged at the request of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). Returned soldiers' associations will be taking part in those gatherings and recruiting appeals will be made at the same time.. Army Headquarters has issued a general appeal to all members of the Regular Staff to assist the campaign in every possible way. The public will be advised of the progress of the campaign' by regular publication of recruiting figures.