RECRUITING LEAD NEEDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22833, 14 September 1937, Page 8

RECRUITING LEAD NEEDED

Colonel R. Miles' appeal to employers for co-operation in encouraging their staffs to join the Territorial Force may be expected to b« sympathetically received. In spite of the *many new obligations laid on them by the industrial laws, employers have already made plain their helpful attitude and most are reported to be allowing their employees to attend, camps without deductions of pay or holiday leave. There seems no reason to anticipate any dimming of that spirit of practical co-operation. The City Council has also adopted a scheme to enable members of its staffs to undertake training under reasonable terms, a creditable example that should not be lost on other public bodies. What is lacking is a strong and inspiring lead from the Government. First it should issue a general appeal for recruits, an appeal both forceful and compelling. Next it should turn to its own numerous cohorts of public servants and encourage them to do their bit. The encouragement should be primarily spiritual, but should be backed by material inducements by way of making up pay and the grant of extra leave for training. Until the Government has done these things, its officers do not have the standing they should have in appealing to private employe™. There need be little doubt as to the response from young New Zenlanders, because they realise the need and only have to be convinced that the Government is in earnest.