“N.Z. STAND TO”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 4

“N.Z. STAND TO”

EX-SOLDIERS’ CALL GOVERNMENT LEAD SHOW PEOPLE DUTY COMPULSORY SERVICE INTRODUCTION URGED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A call ’to the Government to lead the people of New Zealand in their duty by introducing compulsory universal national service was made by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association after the present defence position had been fully discussed at meetings the previous night and yesterday. After referring to, the Mother Country’s inspiring example, the association stated: "Behind the fighting forces is a united Parliament and a united Government representing all classes, leading a united people. Remembering the ‘Contemptible Little Army’ of 1914. who can doubt that the British and Allied armies of to-day will weather the storm? But who can doubt now that filial victory demands from every one of us throughout the Empire not only service' but devoted , unlimited service. By giving this service we shall win.” The association concludes: “In the name of the men now protecting us and in the name of those who have already died for us, we now call on the Government to lead the people of New Zealand in their duty by the introduction of compulsory universal national service. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association calls upon the people of New Zealand to stand to.” The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association announced last night that it had sent telegrams to all of its 90 branches, requesting them to call public meetings during the coming week, preferably on Thursday, May 30. The purpose of such meetings is to pass a resolution for the adoption of compulsory universal national service.

CONSCRIPTION PLEA N.Z. MEN AND WOMEN BLENHEIM RESOLUTION (Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, this day. A meeting attended by over 100 women, convened by the provincial patriotic council to organise war work, yesterday afternoon unanimously resolved to forward representations to the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, urging the introduction of conscription for men and women for war service. The idea of the inclusion of national service for women arose out of a suggestion that the meeting express support of the Government’s new scheme of home defence training, with a recommendation that women should be 'organised to fill positions term porarily vacated by territorials and reservists who are undergoing training.

GESTURE TO BRITAIN N.Z. WAR GIFT SUGGESTED £1,000,000 PROPOSED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A suggestion that in the present crisis New Zealand should give a lead to the rest of the British commonwealth of nations by making some large gesture of loyalty to and support for Britain, was made yesterday by Mr. C. G. White, chairman of directors of Union Airways Limited, a director of the Union Steam Ship Company and other leading commercial institutions and a well-known solicitor. He suggested the Dominion should make a gift of say £1,000,000 to the British Government for war purposes in the same way as she gave the dreadnought H.M.S. New Zealand to Britain when Sir Joseph Ward was Prime Minister. j : MILITARY SERVICE COMPULSION URGED WELLINGTON BUSINESSMEN (P«r Prc»i Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. At a fully representative meeting of the Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce the following motion was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of young men, who are of military age and would be directly affected by compulsory military service, wholeheartedly endorses the resolution which was adopted by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening. We would go even further and urge the immediate summoning of Parliament to put into effect the system of compulsory military service in place of the present voluntary method, which has proved inequitable, inadequate and inefficient.”

DANNEVIRKE APPEAL SUMMON PARLIAMENT (Por Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, this day. 'That with all deference to the views expressed by the Government, this council is emphatically of the opinion that Parliament should be summoned immediately for the express purpose of the New Zealand war effort.” This resolution was unanimously passed by the Dannevirke County Council. The mover, Cr. H. Stratford, declared that, in his opinion, the Government was deliberately obstructing the will of the people.