MOUNTED RIFLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1940, Page 3

MOUNTED RIFLES

ENLISTMENTS INVITED.

[PER press, association.]

WELLINGTON, December 14. The Minister for Defence (Mr F. Jones) announced to-day that the number of men remaining under training in mobilisation camps for the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force was much greater than was anticipated, and it had been found necessary to delay the entry into camps of some of the territorial units. The units affected are six mounted rifles regiments in the North Island—the North Auckland Mounted Rifles, Auckland and East Coast Mounted Rifles, Waikato Mounted Rifles. Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, Wellington and East Coast Mounted Rifles, and the Manawatu Mounted Rifles. It was intended that these regiments should begin training in camp on January 6, but they will not go into camp now until early in February.

The Minister said that some regiments were not yet up to full strength and postponement of the camp dates would enable gaps in the ranks to be filled. With the object of obtaining suitable men to make up deficiencies, the Government had decided to accept voluntary enlistment of single men between the ages of 19 and 45 years who were specially suitable for service in the mounted rifles. “I understand,” the Minister said, “that there are a number of such men available and willing to join up, and hope that they will come forward without delay.” He said that single men between the ages of 21 and 40 would still be, subject to ballots for overseas service. Any man wishing to volunteer for the mounted rifle units should apply to the nearest Army office. In conclusion, the Minister said, he would like to make it clear that such voluntary enlistment was restricted to mounted rifle regiments only., '