CADRE SYSTEM IN HOME DEFENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 28 October 1941, Page 5

CADRE SYSTEM IN HOME DEFENCE

IMPORTANCE STRESSED APPEALS AGAINST SERVICE Auckland, Oct. 27 The importance attached by the ! army authorities to the territorial i cadres in raising the efficiency and . i effectiveness of New Zealand’s home i. ] defence forces was described by Major t c». R. Blackett. Auckland area staff v I officer, at a sitting of the Auckland 1 Area Manpower Committee, when 10 * appeals against cadre service were j] l card The majority of the appeals ! v.ere by employers, who mostly argued e that the men concerned were doing ! more important work in their civilian i occupation than they would if they j v ere put into the territorial cadres for ! the duration of the war. t 1 “It is considered by the army a r ' vital necessity that the territorial 3 | forces should be raised immediately to I the highest state of efficiency for the defence of New Zealand.” said Major i Blackett. “To gain this efficiency, the mobilisation of various key men and men for instructional purposes is eon--1 sidered imperative. "The object of the cadres is to provide a highly-trained nucleus of officers. non-commissioned officers and 1 certain other ranks on which to build on mobilisation or for unit training. It :*j also to provide an instructional staff for the training of recruits for the units concerned. Major Blackett said it was con- , sic ered that service with the territorial ! cadres was as important as service overseas. Units had been instructed to select cadre men for special jobs and it was not for the units to consider i whether the men were available or not. “In some cases a man may be found to be more essential in his civilian employment. but to iny mind, these c ases should be very few indeed.” Major Blackett added. If employers considered what might happen in an invasion. some sacrifice now was surely better than the possible loss of their businesses altogether. Any present sacrifice must be considered as an insur- , ance premium. A very grave responsibility rested upon employers in making appeals. j "We are not asking for any men whe j we do not consider are vitally import, j ant in the scheme.” he said. —P.A.