500 RECRUITS

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1940, Page 5

500 RECRUITS

ON WEST COAST After Six Months After almost exactly six pjonths recruiting enlistments at Greymouth yesterday reached the 500 mark, three additional recruits being R. W. Lester, G J. Newton, and C. A. Rutland. Actually about 40 more have enlisted, but for various reasons their applications have not been accepted. In comparison with other centres, the response on the West Coast has been most gratifying. On a population basis, the West Coast stands in second or third position tor the whole Dominion, and the district has already provided quotas much in excess of the original quotas set for the district. • On Monday next, Hon. A. Hamilton (Leader of the Opposition) will address a recruiting meeting at the Greymouth Town Hall, under the auspices of the National Recruiting Committee. MEDICAL BOARD. The next sitting of the Medical Board will be held at Greymouth on Tuesday next, March 19th, at 9.30 a.m., at the Druids’ Hall, Tainui Street. MEN ON LEAVE. Twenty West Coast troops from Trentham returned to Greymouth on final leave last evening. On Wednesday 151 men from Burnham returned. A further 25 from Papakura are to arrive to-day, and the last draft of about 10 from various camps will arrive to-morrow. Most of the troops leave after Easter on return to camp.

Mr Fraser Pleased

N.Z. TOUR SUCCESS. WANGANUI, March 14. “I have every’ reason to be satisfied with the results of the recruiting campaign on my' tour,” said the Deputy-! Wme Minister (Mr Fraser), today. “The gatherings in the South Island, and also so far in the North (Island, have been uniformly large. I am also particularly gratified at the way in which the people are responding with loans and gifts to the Government during the war.” > Mr Fifaser started his toui’ In,vercargill, and addressed-meetings in Gore, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Blenheim, Nelson, Wellington, Palmerston North, and Wanganui. Today, he proceeded to Hawera, to adk a meeting, and he with speak at New Plymouth to-night. To-mor-row, he will fly to Dargaville, to address a meeting there, and will then proceed to Whangarei. He will also speak in Hamilton, before returning i to Wellington on the Sunday. N.Z. Enlistments OVER 30,000 EXAMINED. WELLINGTON, March 14. During last week 534 enlisted for service overseas in the Second ExI peditionary Force. This was the smallest number for a week for some time. To March 9, the' totals were classified as follows:— Madically examined ... 30,035 Fit 21,389 Temporarily unfit .... 2,496 Permanently unfit .... 3,672 In Reserved occupations 1,785 Sent to Camp 15,212 posting to camp 3,846 Balance available for

In Taranaki PUBLIC SHOW INTEREST. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 14. Preceded by parades of returned soldiers, and Army and Air Force i units, headed by brass bands and pipers, recruiting meetings were conI ducted at Hawera and New Plymouth | to-day by the Deputy-Prime Minister and Major-General J. E. Duigan. They were exceptionally well attended, and were marked bv the keenest enthusiasm. Interest at both centres was kindled by the arrival of the touring party by aeroplane, following which pamphlets were dropped over the towns from a machine. The enthusiasm was most marked to-night at New Plymouth, where 1 hundreds of people l lined the main i street for a parade of more than 450 officers and men, members of the St.' , John Ambulance, Voluntary Aid De-, : tachment. and Red Cross. MORE CON SCRI PTION I STS! HAMILTON, March 13. Grave concern at the Government’s allegedly half-hearted method of on-1 tabling men for the New Zealand Second Expeditionary Force, and its apparent unwillingness to place the country’s war effort on a truly na-j tional basis, was expressed at a meeting of the Raglan County Council The majority of the members considered that conscription was inevitable, and that its immediate introduction was essential, in view of the apparent failure of the voluntary system. The following motion was carried only one councilor dissenting: “That this council is strongly in of the system of universal compuisoryj national service being instituted at the earliest possible moment, for the duration of the war. The Council is tin the positron of being able to view the effects of the voluntary system of. enlistment, as it affects the farming communitv, and can definitely state, that farm management and primary, produce production are already suf-; fering as a result of the present sys-i tern.” <

The Chairman (Mr H. W. Wilson), in proposing Ihe resolution, advocated a definite policy of “farm or fight.”‘Tn spite of what had been sa’d to the contrary by some Councils, he maintained that it was the responsibility of local bodies to do all within their power to see that a fair and equitable system of national service was instituted. Over f30..000 . , FOR FIGHTING SERVICES. WELLINGTON, March 14. The National organisation for the

Fighting Services’ ’Welfare Fund appeal having this week reached the point of greatest activity, the results are demonstrating the splendid generosity throughout the Dominion. In 24 hours, the totals .increased by £lO,OOO and the results reported from 19 committees represented a total exceeding £30,000. Street appears are taking place to-morrow in over 50 towns.

Aazac Day

WREATH FOR GALLIPOLI. ■ WELLINGTON, March 14. ■j As the result of a letter from an ex,l serviceman, the New Zealand R.S.A. has communicated with Major-Gen-eral Freyberg, suggesting that during Anzac Day, 1940, a wreath should be deposited upon the graves of Turkish ' soldiers who fell during the Gallipoli . campaign, and that it would be most ' appropriate if the Second A.I.F. were ; to co-operate with the N.Z.E.F. in this , tribute. Anzac Day, 1940, being the \ 25th anniversary of the Anzac landi ing, it is considered there could be no 1 more fitting occasion for such a gesture.