Men Wanted For Territorial Units

Northern Advocate, 4 July 1939, Page 8

Men Wanted For Territorial Units

(Contributed by John A, Lee, D.C.M., M.M., Parliamentary Under-Secretary.)

New Zealand Defence needs men, tough, virile men.' As we walk about the streets we are pleased with the physique and bearing of recruits in their new uniforms. On the King’s Birthday, as parade disbanded, and as the men mingled again with the civil community, one noticed that the men in uniform were above our average standard, and yet, while gratified at the quality of the men in uniform, one could scarcely feel that there were yet enough in uniform. 1914.

Men are wanted so that New Zealand may be ready for emergency. Does the Government believe that war is a matter of hours that it is so insistent on recruiting for military training? Not at all. There may be no danger whatever of war, but we live in a troubled world and training for an emergency cannot be completed in a few hours. The voluntary system of training can only function successfully if a large proportion of those trained are qualified to act as N.C.O.'s or officers in the event of an outbreak of war.

Defence, not Militarism

The fact that only a sufficient number is being trained to act as this highly skilled nucleus in the event of danger explodes any suggestion that the Government is pursuing a policy of militarism. No one in New Zealand is concerned about military drill for its own sake. No one in New Zealand preaches, as in other countries, that war is good and the warrior’s the noblest life. In New Zealand we are anxious to live in peace and to expand our population and our industries, our national well-being. But our way of life is conditioned by the circumstances of the world in which we live as well as by our ideals. However much we want to live at peace, we have to take cognizance of circumstances and prepare ourselves for all contingencies. There is no time to prepare after war has overtaken^is. Patriotic New Zealand. If a war occurred to-morrow, New Zealand’s manhood would rush to enlist. Says Ormond Burton of 1914 in his “Silent Division":—

“Within a few days of the declaration of war the young manhood of New Zealand was assembling in the camps at Alexandria Park, Awapuni racecourse, Addington and Tahuna Parks. From the gum fields and the timber mills, from the sheep runs and the dairy farms and the flax swamps, from mine and office and factory and school, shop hands and lawyers, labourers and university professors, mechanics and parsons, a few crooks and deadbeats, and a great crowd of

decent chaps—they came pouring in. “There was enthusiasm and a haze of rather splendid feeling, A great adventure was opening up. All the humdrum of life suddenly fell away and men were like young gods in a new world of romance.”

’ The men who came pouring in in s equipping and drilling recruits and L turning them into soldiers. That ; machine was the then existing army, ! recruited on a basis of compulsion. - The technique of war has become much more complex since 1914, indeed since 1919, and it becomes of greater im- ; portance to-day that there should be that skilled instructor nucleus which would enable recruits to be speedily absorbed in a time of emergency. War Preparation Costly. War preparation has gone more technical since 1914 and is too costly for New Zealand to be able to afford to quip and train everyone to-day, but it is' urgently necessary that the numbers decided upon should be at full strength and always efficient. It is a matter of urgency that all men should volunteer, so that the State can select of the best, and as increased numbers do volunteer each man selected should feel honoured. His aceptance is a mark of honour, a certificate of mental and physical fitness. Wanted, the Best. So, then, men wanted; tough, virile men. The defence of New Zealand is not a task for the least but for the best. The men will provide our N.C.O.’s and Officers, should it be our misfortunte to find ourselves at war. Wanted, men of the type who enlisted in 1914-1919. Men from sports clubs, men from the farm, men from the shop, men from various industries. Wanted, the Rugby three-quarter who goes for the touch line when his chance of getting there is slight, but the need to his team is urgent. That fellow who risks a hard tackle on the playing field will make a good team mate.

Quantity and Quality. Appeals have been made by the Prime Minister, by the Minister of Defence, by various prominent citizens. The response has been fair in numbers and the quality of the men who have offered has been of New

Zealand’s best. In some localities recruiting has been better than in others. The Government desires to build a force representative of New Zealand geographically i as well as physically. Men are required from all industries, from all localities. Every centre in New Zealand should provide its quota for training. In every centi’e men be-

yond the age of training and womenfolk could combine in local associations to give a social and a community background to the men who volunteer. The recruit will be proud of his unit and of his uniform when the locality is proud of its recruit. Communities should vie one with another in seeing ; that their quota of New Zealand’s j

establishment is maintained at full strength. Between 1914 and 1919 the various provincial districts of New Zealand had a pride in the achievements of the New Zealand Division and in the achievements of their own companies within New Zealand’s Division. Units from your locality have a,history of which you should be proud. The call to serve is* not only a call to New Zealand’s manhood, but to every citizen to co-operate in creating that local goodwill toward the volunteeer which will cause the recruit to feel that citizens recognise ho is serving his country, his locality, when he volunteers. (To be Continued.)