753 Men Wanted To Complete Third Echelon

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1940, Page 3

753 Men Wanted To Complete Third Echelon

[Per Press Association. Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day. The Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) reviewing the progress, of recruiting at the conference held in Wellington yesterday said the total registrations to :date were 27,341. ! Cf these, 17,701 had been passed as | fit, 4201 were awaiting examination, land 13,759 had been posted to camps. There were 2125 fit men available for the Third Echelon. It was estimated that there were 2940 fit in those to be examined, giving a total of 5065 available for the Third Echelon, consequently only 753 were required to complete it. ' | A Wonderful Response. [ The Maori Battalion was in camp, and there had been a wonderful response for men for the railway and forestry companies. In addition to men wanted for the army. New Zealand was supplying men for the Air Force. Already, 4300 had applied for positions as pilots, air gunners and j observers, and 2000 had been inj terviewed, 849 pased as fit, and 251 I temporarily unfit, j By the end of October 643 would have been sent to Britain as fully trained men, and towards the end of the year others would be sent to Canada to complete their training. Men For Navy. Great Britain had also asked for men for the navy, and New Zealand would have supplied them, but it was not until a few days ago that the requirements were known. Arrangements were now being made to send R.N.V.R. men. mechanicians, tradesmen, and a small number of yachtsmen overseas. ! He could not say where they would jbe going. The main work of the committee I would be to find men to complete the j Third Echelon, said Mr. Jones, and] l reinforcements to make good wastage | land casualties' in the Second New Zealand Force.