JOIN UP NOW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 29 June 1939, Page 6

JOIN UP NOW

ARMY RECRUITING SUCCEEDING I STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER In opening the Recruiting Campaign some weeks ago. I, as Prime Minister made an appeal to all fit New- Zealanders to become responsible for the Defence of New Zealand and to enlist in the Territorial Forces or to join the Reserve < says a statement issued by the |Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage i In some areas the appeal has been very successful, especially in those centres wherein my own appeal has been reinforced by local efforts on the ! part of interested citizens. In some localities the minimum establishment aimed at has been attained and men in excess of the minimum arc offering. In other localities, however, the local quotas have not yet been filled, although recruiting progresses steadily. To-day, we publish the number of recruits still necessary if each locality ;is to find its quota toward New Zealand Defence. We list the quotas of j towns and localities for the purpose of encouraging citizens where the quota i has not been attained to engage in re- [ cruiting. Defence is a national concern. ( but each locality must shoulder its proportion of the task, and publicspirited citizens in each locality can assist the Government of New Zealand to recruit men by creating interest in and goodwill toward the local unit. Citizens past military age or fitness can play a big part in the successful maintenance of New’ Zealand’s forces by making each man who offers himself for the defence of the country, conscious of the fact that the locality !s proud of its own volunteer, that the volunteer honours his district as well as the nation. I ask citizens of all districts in New Zealand where quotas are not yet completed to vie with other districts in healthful competition so that New Zealand may enlist that number of men deemed to be essential. The Government is proud of the type of man who has offered himself for service in the defence of his nation. I want each locality to be proud of its volunteer, to be proud df its local unit or contribution to a unit, and to do everything that can be done to maintain the local unit at full strength. What has your town or district done collectively to aid the individual to be recruited?

i My thanks to those w r ho have supported the Government’s appeal with local activity. Has your district contributed its proportion? Have you personally, helped? Men are wanted so that New Zealand may be ready for emergency there is no time to prepare after war has overtaken us. The present Territorial [Force has been built up to a standard Jof which it is justly proud, and of | which the Government and the country jfts a w’hole Is equally proud. We live in a troubled world. This is no time to change our system of recruiting or to do anything which will depreciate or hrnder the w r ork of the present volunteer forces. Those people who pay lip service to national defence whild at the same time decrying the successful recruiting efforts which are being made by the Army are. whatever their reasons, doing a grave disservice to the community.

I am no soldier and no one can accuse me of being a militarist, but the discussions at and conclusions reached by the Pacific Defence Conference convinced me of the necessity of havAir Force and Navy, but also an Army ; reasonable in numbers and efficient, j with a proper scale of modern weapons. [We want to keep a proper balance between all three fighting services and i the general needs of the community, jt asked myself whether it was better i to train more men or to spend the extra j money on providing full scale fighting equipment for the enthusiastic volunteer soldiers we have got in the Territorial Force to-day. I am told that modern war. as with so mahy other aspects of modern life, requires first class men with first class gear. We are getting men of the right type; footballers, young farmers. the pick of New Zealand, in the Territorial Force to-day, and we are making every effort to give them the weapons, ammunition and equipment which they must have if they are to defend New Zealand effectively. The steps we are taking, including increasing the Territorial Army to 16,000, are based on the recommendations put forward by the Defence Conference and confirmed in the special report produced by Major-General P. J* Mackesy. I am no military expert, although I have been informed that strategy is common sense. If that is so the people of New Zealand will ! agree that I can discuss strategy. It has been said that the risk of attack on New Zealand is remote—that is a matter of opinion. It has also been j said that if war comes we shall immediately despatch an expeditionary force overseas—that is impossible. [None of the experts are prepared io say at this juncture that it can be done, certainly on the scale of 1914, until our sea communications arc secure and our ! ships can move with reasonable immunity from attack. It may not be necessary then, but the decision can be safely left to the manhood of New Zealand when the time comes. Ihe Territorial Force is proud of itself and is recruiting the right type of man in the places where they are required to roraplete our military organisation. I have every confidence that the young men of New Zealand, despite the gloomy prophecies of some of the older generation, will continue doing the right thing now and will join up now. I am confident that now the conditions of service for the National Mili-j tary Reserve are widely known the numbers required will be forthcoming in the towns and districts to which they have been allotted. I hope the occasion will never arise for the services of men who join up to be used in war. but everyone in this! country will feel more secure, and happier, if those who are eligible for ser- 1 vice do their di ty now. Every centre in New Zealand can provide its quota for training. Men beyond the age of training and womenfolk can combine in local associations Ic give a community backing to the men who volunteer. The Territorinl re-i

Icruit wii. be proud of his unit and I proud to wear his uniform when tha locality is proud of its recruit. The tall to serve Is net only a rail to N« w Zealand manhood, but to eve-y rftitens to co-oparate id showing lerognitlan that th# «aa who up Is serving his ituntry and bis PJtlrlet. Everyone »B help. I appeal confidently for your cooperation