MEN NEEDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 14

MEN NEEDED

DEFENCE SERVICE APATHETIC PUBLIC APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS ENCOURAGING RECRUITS i [BT TELEGRAM —TOESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday An appeal to employers to encourage employees to attend camps is made by tho Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., president of tho New Zealand Defence League. "Another Christmas is almost upon us and the world is racked with anxiety for the future," says Mr. Perry. "Prominent statesmen in Britain have strongly emphasised tho necessity of strengthening tho defence force of all arms, and the question of universal national service is rapidly becoming a very live issue. "Since 1936 tho New Zealand Defonco League has been endeavouring to create a public opinion in New Zealand in favour of adequate defence forces. It has emphasised in plain terms the dangers which confront us in the near, not distant, future. People have been and still aro apathetic. After the crisis in September one would have expected an influx of members to the league and a rush of recruits to the territorial forces. Neither of these things has happened.

Compulsory Training "In spite of the crisis and in spite of the commendable efforts of the Army Department, the territorial forces are still below establishment," the appeal continues. "The league, therefore, is forced to tho conclusion that the best means of achieving its objects is to advocate the adoption of a form of compulsory military training, beginning with three months' oontinuous recruit training by all youths over tho age of 18, followed by four years' training in the territorials, and also the establishment of a national register of the wholo population in readiness for an emergency. "The need for trained men is urgent and grave. The British Commonwealth of Nations may be fighting for existence within the next six months. We shall then find that what is needed in war is soldiers, not recruits, and what is also needed is a civilian population prepared and trained to defend itself at home. Lot it not be thought, however, that because it advocates compulsion the league is opposed to the voluntary system. Its only concern is to get trained men in time, so that if war should come it will bo war and not massacre. It matters not whether men are obtained by the voluntary system or by compulsion, so long as they are obtained. Duty to tho Country "Until such time as compulsion is introduced the league exhorts all employers to encourage their employees who are eligible for service to join the territorial forces," sayß Mr. Perry. "The vital part of the territorial annual training comes in the next three months, when annual camps will be held. If the 8500 young men who are carrying out a public duty by serving in the territorial units are to bo reasonably efficient they must be given every opportunity to attend'the annual camp of their unit. Let the suggestion that employees should attend camps come from employers themselves. Let the young men respond to the suggestion. Let them realise that by so doing they are performing their duty to their country and improving themselves mentally and physically. "The peoples *of totalitarian States are making sacrifices in time of peace which we -should almost hesitate to make in time of war. If our people, who enjoy such a high standard of living, are not prepared to make sacrifices in time of peace so as to be prepared for war when it comes, they may one day be bitterly disillusioned."