DOMINION'S ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 11

DOMINION'S ARMY

CITY ENLISTMENTS FEW IN LAST FORTNIGHT DENTAL TREATMENT POSITION Since the last detachment of men in the first echelon of the special military force left for camp a fortnight ago, 184 further volunteers have enlisted at the drill hall in Rutland Street. The total liumber of enlistments in the Auckland area since recruiting began was 2715 to yesterday, these being apart from those for the other areas in the northern military district. When the last draft of men went into camp the area total was 2531. Of the men now. in camp or still available for duty hundreds were classed as temporarily unfit after medical examination. Unwilling to prejudice their chances of inclusion in the first echelon, a large proportion of these men had physical and dental defects immediately attended to and returned for fresh examination. As a result most of the men who have been examined but not yet called up are volunteers who were at first temporarily rejected. Records of the dental treatment show that a very large proportion of city dentists have shared in the work. If men needing such attention have regular dentists of their own they are given requisitions for the dentists to whom they have been accustomed, and over 90 dentists have received patients as a result of the medical board's findings.

GRANT OP £IOO SOLDIERS' CLUB AT HAMILTON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday A grant of £IOO has been received by the Hamilton Patriotic Committee from the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council for the establishment of a club in Hamilton for the entertainment of soldiers from the Hopuhopu camp and for the provision of sports gear for the camp. The club has been formed in the Bledisloe Hall and visitors from the camp are invited to ; call there during Saturday and Sunday. The hostesses for the next week-end arc the members of the ladies' committee of the Hamilton Citizens' Band. Arrangements are also being made by Mrs. H. C. Ross and the Rev. H. j. Lilburn for the billeting of soldiers during the week-end in private homes in Hamilton. , MEDICAL SERVICES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR [BT TELEGRAPH —PR RSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The Gazette announces that Major «T. M. Twhigg, N.Z.M.C-, has been granted a temporary appointment as assistant director of medical services (air) and posted to Air Headquarters, Wellington. AIR FORCE MECHANICS NOTICE TO REPORT TO BASE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday Taranaki mechanics who have enlisted in the ground staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have received notice to report for duty next week, some at Hobsonville and others at Wigram. Employees of the ground staff organisation at the New Plymouth airport have been advised that if they enlist they will be accepted for service.

A CHANGE OF UNIFORM ISSUE BEING CONSIDERED [by telegraph—press association] .WELLINGTON, Thursday Men being 'trained in the special military force have no change of uniform available and consideration is being given to the question of supplying all of them with a second uniform, probably of khaki denim. During the last war the men were dressed in denims for training and were able to keep their serge uniforms as a change and for wear on leave. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said to-day that the issue of a. second uniform had been discussed and was under action. Officers of the Army Department were going into the matter to see if denims- could be issued to all men in camp.

SHOWGROUNDS AS CAMP * DIFFERENCE AS TO CHARGE [by telegraph—own correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday Palmerston North business men are "concerned at a report that the Minister, of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, threatens to take the Maori battalion camp away from Palmerston North becausc he considers the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association wants too much money for six months' use of the showgrounds. The association is asking £.500, based on the revenue which will lie lost. This amount, however, included £250 as the estimated proceeds of a gala day, which the association states is necessary to raise funds to enable it to meet its financial commitments. The proceeds from a similar function last year amounted to £SBO, but the association has reduced the estimate this year to the defence authorities, and by so doing has wiped out any prospects of a profit, which last year only amounted to £343. It is also pointed out that nowhere else could the Minister, find such excellent facilities for a camp and that it would cost the department considerably more than £SOO to make provision for a camp elsewhere. At a meeting of business men it was decided to send a deputation to the Minister, it being considered that he had secured a wrong perspective of the position.

ACCOUNTANCY STUDENTS SPECIAL CONSI DERATION [BV TELKCKAPH —PRESS association] WELLINGTON. Thursday The council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, desiring to give every possible assistance to entrants for accountancy examinations in November who have enlisted or been passed for military service, has empowered the committee to confer with the university.'authorities with a view to the adoption of a scheme by which the utmost consideration will' be given to candidates who sit for the examinations. In each case all the circumstances will be taken into account. The council agreed unanimously that membership fees of those who were accepted for military service within New Zealand or overseas would be paid by the society. Similar action was taken during the last war.