FALL IN ENLISTMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23591, 27 February 1940, Page 9

FALL IN ENLISTMENTS

228 FOR THE WEEK NORTHERN DISTRICT TOTAL FEWER MAORI VOLUNTEERS A reduction in the rate of recruiting for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force occurred in the northern military district last week. The effective increase was 228, compared with 312 the week before, but it is not expected that any impetus provided by the opening of the recruiting hut in Queen Street and the holding of a victory march for H.M.S. Achilles on Friday will make itself felt until this week.

Of the 228 recruits, 105 came forward in Auckland, about three-quarters of them in the last two days of the week. The numbers forthcoming from the other areas were: —Paeroa, 48; Whangarei, 32; Hamilton, 43. The total now available in the district, having been passed as fit, is 1288. There was also a decline in the recruiting for the Maori Battalion. Only 35 fresh recruits came forward in the whole district, Paeroa contributing 22 of these, Whangarei seven, and Auckland and Hamilton three each. The number available, having been passed as fit, is now 234. i

. NATIONAL UNITY ARCHBISHOP'S PLEA SINKING POLITICAL OPINIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The importance of national unity at the present time was emphasised by Archbishop Averill at an afternoon tea reception given in his honour by the Government to-day. It was the duty of all, he said, to put their shoulders to the wheel for the common good. The Archbishop said he wished to commend the Government for the support it had given to the Motherland and the Allies in this great crusade against the enslavement of mankind. It was not difficult to visualise the state of affairs there would be if they did not oppose the policy of certain European nations. Just as New Zealand did its duty in the last war,-so the young manhood of to-day would do its duty in this contest, encouraged by the devotion and gallantry of the young New Zealanders on the Achilles. In view of the difficulties of the Dominion, the Empire and the Allies, said Archbishop Averill, it was the duty of all to pull together and endeavour to create the greatest possible unity. They should not allow political opinions to make anv difference. All should work to destroy the tyranny which, if allowed to go on, would enslave mankind. DECORATION OF SEAMEN ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER Another of the ratings from H.M.S. Achilles who were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for conduct during the River Plate action is a New Zealander. He is Ordinary-Seaman I. T. L. Rodgers, _ formerly described as an Imperial rating. Recently promoted from Boy, First Class, Ordinarv-Seaman Rodgers is a son of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Rodgers, of Victoria Street, Pukekohe. He is aged 18, and after attending the Pukekohe High School entered the Navy in Auckland three years ago. DONATION OF £IOOO < DTTNEDIN SAVINGS BANK [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] DTTNEDIN, Monday The president of the Dunedin Savings Bank, Mr. D. C. Cameron, announces that the bank trustees have unanimously granted £IOOO to the funds of the Otago Patriotic Council, of which £750 is to be reserved for a fund for the purpose of assisting the men on their return from active service, or for their dependants. TRIBUTES TO NAVY HAMILTON RESIDENT'S GIFTS [from: ottk own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday Donations to various naval benefits amouuting to £175 have been made by a Hamilton resident, Mr. F. W. Burlev. He has forward £75 to the Royal Naval Fund, £25 to the canteen fund of H.M.S. Achilles and £75, in sterling, to the Dr. Barnardo's Homes. England, to assist in maintaining the four children of a British sailor wno lost his life when H.M.S. Courageous was torpedoed and the six children of a British soldier killed in France.