Plans For Whangarei Recruiting

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1940, Page 6

Plans For Whangarei Recruiting

Establishment of a recruiting booth in the business area was decided upon by the Whangarei Recruiting SubCommittee at a meeting yesterday. The booth is to encourage recruiting, and a sub-committee comprising Messrs W. Jones, H. C. Hemphill, H. W. James and I. A. Cromie, was set up to decide location and erection. It was reported that representations for the use of a room in the Old County Chambers adjoining the Post Office had not been successful, although the chairman (Mr Jones) stated that the Minister had promised co-operation. Further representations to the Minister are to be made. The majority of members were of the opinion that a booth in the street was preferable to a room in a building. The question of the erection of signs outside the Municipal Buildings was deferred. Public Meeting Convening of a meeting in the Town Hall with a view to making personal contact with eligible men was approved, a sub-committee comprising Messrs J. A. S. Mac Kay, A. K. Franks and H. C. Hemphill being set up to co-operate. The necessity of advice from the Minister of Defence regarding whether it was intended to accept the Whangarei A. and P. Society’s facilities at the summer show was emphasised as it was imperative that the machines asked for should be in Whangarei. Arrangements are also to be made to invite the Deputy-Prime Minister or another responsible Minister to be present and to give an appropriate address. The sub-committee decided to invite the Whangarei branch of the Red Cross Society to lend its organisation for the conduct of weekly community sings in the Town Hall. Regarding the proposal to use two recruiting lorries, one representing Boer War soldiers and the other Great War* soldiers, to stimulate recruiting, Mr Hemphill reported that members of Whangarei Returned Soldiers’ Association were not prepared to associate themselves with that particular form of . recruiting.