THE EMERGENCY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 28, 2 January 1942, Page 4

THE EMERGENCY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Let us face the lacts. No matter how valiantly our partially-armed Home Guard del cuds bridges, airports, and other vital points in the district, no matter how successfully the E.P.S. deals with attempts to burn our city from the air, their efforts will be in vain unless our main, fully-equipped lighting units can stem any invasion by Japanese forces. "Is it not then self-evident that the latter must have first Oall on fit men able to pass the medical test!'' Is it not then clear that any scramble for our limited man-power among competing organisations, of which there has been evidence, must stop at once, and first needs be first met? The, fighting force with which Palmerston North i.s concerned at the moment is the Nat> ional Military Reserve. Available fit men who do not enrol and fill its complement immediately, whether or not they are already in the Home Guard or E.P.S.. are shirking their plain duty to the country. If they remain in these organisations from a mistaken sense of loyalty they are placing parochial, sectional'loyalty before urgent national requirements.

The N.M.11. must first be filled in the next few days. It will then be the duty of those not required for this purpose to remain in or join the Home Guard until its quota is complete. All others should be required to join the E.P.S. Our local leaders should cooperate in an all-out effort on those lines.—Yours, etc., RESERVIST.