MEN WANTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 1 July 1939, Page 8

MEN WANTED

FOR TERRITORIAL UNITS (Contributed by John A. Lee, D.C.M., M.M., Parliamentary Under-Secretary-) New Zealand Defence needs men, tough, virile men. As we walk about the streets are pleased with the physique and bearing of recruits in their new uniforms. Uii the Kings Birthday, as parades disbanded and as the men mingled again with the civil community, one noticed

that the men in uniform were above our average standard, and yet, while grati lied ui the quality of the men m uniform, on*' could scarcely feel that there were yei enough in uniform. 1914 .Men arc* wanted so that New Zealand may be ready for emergency. Does the Government believe that war is a mutter ui hours that it ig so insistent on recruiting for military training? Not at all. Uieru may lie no danger whatever of war, but we live in a troubled world and training foi an emoigemy cannot be completed in a few hours. The voluntary system of training can only fuvlion succussfully il a large proportion of tlios Liaincd ale qualified to act as N.C.O's or officers in the event of an out bleak jf DEFENCE, NU’V MILIIAHIBM I lie fact that only a sufficient number is being trained to act as this highly skilled nucleus in the event of daugei explodes any suggestion that the «H«ov eminent is j pursuing a policy of militarism. No one | i l -New Zealand is concerned about militniy drill lor its own sake. No one in New Zealand preaches, as in other conn lues, Lbuj t ,.v\ar is good and the uaYrioi s tlu noblest Iffe. In New Zealand we are anxious to live at peace and to expand our population and out industries, our national well being. But our way of life is conditioned by the cii ciiinstaiices of the world in w hich we live as well as by our ideals. However much we want to live at peace, we have to take cognisance of circumstance.-; and prepare ourselves for all contingencies. There is no time to prepare alter war has overtaken us. PATRIOTIC NEW ZEALAND II a war occurred to-morrow, New Zealand s manhood would rush to enlist Says Ormond Burton of 1914 in his “Silent Division" : “Within a few days of the declaration of war the young manhood of New Zealand was assembling in the camps at Alexandria Park, Avvapuui racecourse, Addington and Tahuua Parks. From

the gum fields and the timber mills, from the sheep iuus and the dairy farms and the flax swamps, from mine and office and factory and school, shop bauds and lawyers, labourers and university professors, mechanics and parsons, a few crooks and deadbeats, amt a great crowd of decent chaps—they came pouring in. • There was enthusiasm and a haze of rather splendid feeling. A great rdvcuture was opening up. All the humdrum of file suddenly fell away and men were like young gods in a new world of romance." i lie men who came pouring hi in 1914 poured into a machine capable of equipping and dniliuu lecruits and turning tbelli into soldiers. That marine was the then existing army, recruited on a basis oi compulsion. The technique oi wai lias bevoiue much mole complex since 1914, indeed since 1919, and it heroines of greater importance to-day lliat there should be that skilled instructor nucleus winch would enable recruits to be speedily absorbed nr a tune of emergency. WAR UREUARATIuN UOfcllA War preparation lias gone more technical since ?914 and is too costly loi New Zealand to be aide to afford to equip and tram everyone to-day. but it is urgently necessary that the numbers decided upon should be at full strength and always efficient. Il is a multei ol uigemy that all iiivii should voiuiiieci, so that the Stale ia., select of the best, and as increased unlit hers do volunteei each man selected should feel -honoured. His acceptance i- a mark of lionoui, a certificate oi mental and physical lit mis. WANTED. THE BEM So, t lien, nit'll wanted, tough. virile i men. The defence of New Zealand is not I a task for the least hut for the best. 1 linen will provide out N ( -U. s and ofli leers, should it h c our misfortune to find oujselves at «at. Wauled, men of Hie llvpc who enlisted in 1914 1919. Men from • spoils clubs, men from the faim, men 1 from the shop, mm front various nidus ! tries. Wauled, the Rugby |ln ee qua ltd j who goes for the touch line when his I « bailee if getting there is slight, but the . need of his team is Urgent. That fellow i who risks a huij tackle oil the playing i held will make a good team finite. QUANTITY AND QUALITY I Appeals have been made by the Urime ! Minister, by the Minister of Defence, by various prominent citizens. The response lias been fair m numbers and the quality of the men who have offered lias been of New Zealand's best. In some localities recruiting has been better than in others. I lie Government desires to build a toree representative of New Zealand geogiaplu • ally as well as physically. Men aie recuired from all industries, from all localities. Every centre in New Zealand should piovnle its quota for Daui ng. In every

centre men beyond the age of naming and womenfolk could combine in local associations to give a social and a community background to the men who volunteer. The recruit will be pioud of bis unit and of his uniform when the locality i* ptouj of its recruit. Communities should v ig one with anot liei in seeing that their quota of New Zealand s establishment JM maintained at full strength. Between 1914 uiid 1919 the various pro. viucial districts of New Zealand had a pride iti"the achievement* ol (lie New Zeo> lend Div ision and in’ the achievements <tf their own companies within New Zealand § Division. Units from your locality have a history ol which vou should he pioud. 'J he call t.. serve is not oidy a call to New Ze*. land s manhood, but to eveiy citizen to coo|K*rate ill creating that local goodwill toward the volunteer which will causo ib. re. run to feel I hat citizens recog uifting lie is serving Ins eouiitiy, Ins ioiai. ity when he volunteers.