Hundred Young Men Wanted

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 174, 26 July 1939, Page 6

Hundred Young Men Wanted

Recruiting for the Territorials

PALMERSTON NORTH BEHIND Several offers of co-operation were received by the district recruiting officer, Captain Barrington, at a meeting of sports bodies held iu tho City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. The Mayor, Mr. A. E. Mansford, presided, and there were representatives of athletics, young farmers, motor-cyclists, and Rugby football. Palmerston North is being called upon to provide an extra 100 men to those who have already enjyflled and of these about 20 will have to be motor-cyclists. Major L. McGaffin, officer commanding tho infantry company, was in attendance. Palmerston North was behind in the quotas even on a percentage basis and it was the duty of all who could reach the young men to urge them to enlist and impress upon them the urgency of the position, said Mr. Mansford. There was no doubt that the Prime Minister would not have made the appeal that he did if he had not appreciated the position as far as the Empire was concerned. Having heard the appeal, it behoved them to do what they could. lie considered the position to be serious and the most serious aspect was the delay by those who did not appreciate what the position was and were putting off joining up. If they were going to be prepared now was the time. If they wero going to wait for another crisis they would bo untrained to meet I any opposition, which would have the ■ benefit of training. They nil knew the position in respect of an untrained football team and the same lesson applied, jlt was necessary to be ready before a crisis arose. The time was getting close when they 1 would be conducting a recruiting drive in Palmerston North, said Captain Barrington. So far they had received an excellent response and give the lie direct to the notion that the young men were not prepared to take >art in the defence of the country, they had found that when they undertood their obligations the right type of nen did not hesitate to join. Most of he districts had already reached their quota. All the small centres had cached their establishment or over and c looked as if they might have to close own in some areas. Palmerston North so far had respondi well, but there wero still vacancies or 100 men. Army training to-day as more highly specialised than in the ast and team work was absolutely ssential. Those present could assist in ontacting young men of the right type nd they had received excellent support ■om sports bodies. With a force of 3,000 men the idea was to give them .vanccd training so that in tho case of irtlier expansion the privates could act : section leaders. A recruiting meeting was to be held jxt week and tho Army had circulars y the Minister of Defence asking oung men to attend. If those who ere there could give him a list of the lembers of their clubs they would be nt a personal notification, which ould be valuable assistance. In New .ymouth and Wanganui the Rugby mbs for instance had supplied enough aeu to form small units of their own within the organisation in their towns. There would be no obligation on those who attended the meeting at the Opera House supper room on Wednesday evening next to join. If they wished to do so, however, they would be pleased to receive them. He was definitely of the opinion that Palmerston North could find tho men required and he hoped they would soon be able to put up tho "house full" sign. He wished especially to mention motor-cyclists who played a very important part in the role of the infantry. They had to have their own machine .but they were paid good rates of hire and would not be out of pocket.

One difficulty was that there were so many other centres clamouring for units, but they wished to keep to a small number of units for preference, if the larger centres did not supply their quota then they would have to go to the smaller places. The fact that it was the intention of tho authorities to so arrange the training so that it would not interfere with sports activities, was mentioned by Major McGaffin. In the event of any' club putting up sufficient volunteers to fill a section (eight men) they would be able to retain their identity if they desired in order to encourage competition. They did not want to split up the members of clubs. Ho had also received inquiries from outlying places such as Bunnythorpe asking if they could supply a small number of men. Captain Barrington explained that mileage was paid up to 12 miles both ways to those attending parades. An instance that he had in njind was eight men from Rata who travelled to Marton by car.

The parades wero held fortnightly, added Captain Barrington, and the halfday parades it was intended should be held as near as possible between tho winter and summer sports seasons.