THE CALL TO SERVICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 12 September 1939, Page 4

THE CALL TO SERVICE

The call to fit New Zealanders between the ages of 21 and 35 years to offer for active war service within or beyond the Dominion has attracted a tremendous amount of attention on the part of all classes. Not at all surprising is it, therefore, to learn that the Defence authorities in every centre were, to-day, busily engaged receiving the initial enrolments. What has, no doubt, contributed largely to the widespread interest associated with the appeal is the fact that it is the first to be made in New Zealand in connection with the mobilisation of the Empire’s man-power to meet the grave threat embodied in the Nazi bid for European domination which, if successful, would, unquestionably, be followed by a further move for world supremacy in respect to trade as well as to territory. Nobody can have any doubt but that the response to the appeal will amount to a magnificent tribute to the justice of the noble cause for which the Motherland, together with her Dominions, is prepared, with France and Poland, to make any sacrifice, no matter how great, in order to ensure the complete vanquishment of the Hitler menace, which has proved even more insiduous and more dangerous than the bare-faced attempt which the exKaiser made, twenty-five years ago, to have German military control substituted for Democratic rule in Europe. What everybody will be waiting to learn is, merely, the great extent to which the response is found to exceed immediate requirements. It is very important to note that the Government has issued this call only to men in the prime of life who can be efficiently trained in the shortest possible period. The aim is, plainly, to secure, with a minimum of delay, a force that will constitute a sure foundation upon which to build as complete a military system as may, eventually, be found necessary. Preference, it should be noted, is to be given to single men who are not engaged in an essential industry. This shows that the Government has, wisely, decided that dislocation in regard to the staffing of the most important industries shall be delayed to the utmost, if it cannot be avoided altogether. In the age group which has been specified, there are about 200,000 men, of whom just over half are single. No difficulty is, therefore, likely to be experienced in securing from amongst the fittest and most suitable of the applicants a body of men who will be a grand advertisement for the Dominion wherever their services may be utilised.