R.S.A Doubts Success Of Voluntary Recruiting

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1939, Page 9

R.S.A Doubts Success Of Voluntary Recruiting

E Per Press Association. Copyright ] WELLINGTON. This Day.

“The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, since the outbreak of the war, has done whatever lay in its power to help in the tremendous tasks that lie ahead,” said Mr W. Perry, in a statement yesterday, association has taken an aettaon “First and foremost,” he added, “the association has taken an active interest in the welfare of the men of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, among whom are to be found many men who served in the Great War. ’The association feels that its experience and advice should be useful to the new'army, and has adopted the role of older brother to the men of that • drmy. •.“Representations on many subjects, particularly pensions, pay and allowances, patriotic societies, and wet canteens have been made to the authorities.

Want Anomalies Removed

.-“The association holds,” said Mr Perry, “that all- the benefits of war pensions legislation passed during and since the Great War should be made available to .the men now serving, and."to this end is making representations to the Government in respect oL certain, anomalies of last session. “It .is hoped that these anomalies will be removed when Parliament reassembles in February.” After detailing what the associationhad done in connection with benefits for troops, and urging that a canteen fund board should be set up, comprising representatives of the Navy, Army Air Force and Returned Soldiers 1 . Association, the statement continued:—

Voluntary System Failing

.. “The.question of obtaining adequate reinforcements for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force is causing the association grave concern.

“Present indications are that the voluntary system of recruiting will not provide the reinforcements required. “At the annual meeting of the Retturned Soldiers’ Association, three months before the war, the association unanimously declared its support of tho principle of compulsory, universal national service, even in peacetime. “The necessity is even greater now. “It is felt that the fighting men should not be- asked to make all the sacrifice and that there, should be, as far as is humanly possible to achieve it, the quality of sacrifice by the protected and their protectors.

Strftre to Ensure Reinforcements

“The association will strive to its utmost to ensure that adequate reinforcements will be available and ' that the whole community will bear its share of the burden of war.

“The men of the new army may rest assured that both here and abroad and after their return, their welfare will have the unremitting attention of die Returned Soldiers’ Association.”