10,000 Recruits Wanted By January 12

Northern Advocate, 22 December 1939, Page 6

10,000 Recruits Wanted By January 12

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] AUOKDAND. Tins Day. EXTENSIVE DOMINION-WIDE CAMPAIGN IS TO BE

BEGUN IMMEDIATELY FOR 10,000 MILITARY VOLUNTEERS, WITH A VIEW TO OBTAINING ANOTHER 5000 PIT MEN FOR THE SPECIAL FORCE BY JANUARY 12.

Tho is being 1 ami chert with n view to completing theSecond Echelon and providing a nucleus for the third.

A staid has been made in Wellington, where it is hoped to raise 1000 men for the Second Echelon within three weeks.

Representatives of Wellington city and suburban local bodies and other organisations have already held a meeting to launch the campaign, and in Christchurch a meeting convened by the .Mayor (.Mr. R. M. MacFarlane, jM.P. ), will be held today. > ' Central Committees Set Up, —— ——

Plans for the campaign did not reach Auckland until yesterday, but early activity is expected here. A central recruiting committee has been set up in Wellington.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) is chairman, and the Army Publicity Officer (Major R. E. Murray) is organise!’. In the course of the campaign it is planned to make full use of newspaper advertising, articles and photographs, broadcasting, addresses by Ministers, the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General J. E. Duigan), and prominent citizens, interviews with members of various units, the relaying of camp entertainments, the use of slogans, and talks by unit commanders of the Second Echelon.

P.W. Camps to be Canvassed.

Various other methods will be adopted to stimulate recruiting. Public Works and forestry camps will be canvassed by recruiting officers, accompanied by medical boards so that examinations can be made on the spot. Recruiting appeals will be made in connection with farewells to members of the First Echelon, and the Post and Telegraph Department is to be asked to incorporate suitable slogans in its franking machines.

Wairarapa Suggestion,

“That this meeting of local body representatives in the Wairarapa district is of the opinion that the campaign for voluntary enlistment should be opened by the Minister for Defence by means of a public address, and that, thereafter, local bodies should willingly assist by all means in their power.” This was a motion passed by a meeting of local body representatives in the Wairarapa.

The view was expressed the personal appearance of the Minister was desirable.

Two of the representatives recorded their votes against the resolution, stating that it was against their principle to assist the Government in voluntary enlistment, as they regarded compulsory service as the only fair method.