WILL VOLUNTEER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20136, 4 January 1940, Page 8

WILL VOLUNTEER

ALL MEN NEEDED MR. SAVAGE’S BELIEF DRIVE FOR RECRUITS GOVERNMENT’S SCHEME POST-WAR PLANNING (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The firm belief that all the men needed for nil arms of the service would be forthcoming under the voluntary system was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in a special interview this morning. “I am not prepared to admit the average New Zealander has lost his sense of proportion, as I feel he must realise that if he does not enlist and go where the war is now, he will eventually have to enlist and fight a lone hand if he stays at home.” said Mr. Savage. “Without the assistance of Britain export becomes an impossibility, and without export the whole of our economic life will be strangled.” he continued. ‘‘lt is only by sending our produce to Britain that we can hope to get the machinery and the raw materials to build the nation we have talked so much about. Essential to Get Men “I have no more love for war than the average man. Every person that knows me knows my views on this subject, but it is absolutely essential that we get the men, and the Government intends to make an immediate drive for recruits. “I have sufficient confidence in the young men of this country to believe that they will enlist, knowing the responsibility which they carry.” Mr. Savage emphasised again that there was to be more equality of sacrifice. He was not going to ask men to go abroad and fight for New Zealand with the prospect of returning to participate in the burden of huge war debts.

'‘The Government is already planning for the after-war period,” he said. “It is a big job, but it has to be faced.” In reply to a question, Mr. Savage said it had not yet been decided by the Cabinet whether Parliament would re-assemble before February 8, to which date it was adjourned.