DEFENCE FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 12

DEFENCE FORCE

TRADE UNION COMPANIES OFFICIAL DISAPPROVAL STATEMENT BY MINISTER iPee United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 7. Asked for his comments on the suggested formation ot territorial units comprised of only bona fide trade unionists the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) said he appreciated the spirit which prompted those responsible for the idea. He emphasised, however, that it was essential that the whole of the defence policy should be under the complete control of the Government and the administration of that policy must be under the defence authorities. The Government could not agree to the formation of separate organisations on the lines suggested, nor could it afford to have in New Zealand a series of defence organisations. The Minister said that while the co-operation o.‘ every organisation was welcomed and accepted in the best goodwill it had to be .nderstood definitely and distinctly that their services must be under the control of whatever Government was in power. He expressed the hope, however, that tnose who might be prepared to join such an organisation would respond rapidly to the appeal being made and enlist immediately in the ranks of the territorials

DEFENCE LEAGUE ANNUAL CONFERENCE SUPPORT FOR PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Juno 7. The first annual conference of the New Zealand Defence League was opened to-day under the presidency of Mr W. Perry, M.L.C. There was an attendance of 60 delegates representing over 100 branches. Associated with Mr Perry was Sir Andrew Russell, the Dominion patron.

Mr Perry said the League had achieved only a small part ol it? objective and still had a long way to go. His own view was that while the Government had proclaimed opposition to compulsory military training and the compilation of a national register, the league should do everything possible to help the Government in the attainment of its policy. By that means the league would be doing at least something. They should therefore get behind the Prime Minister’s appeal. The following officers were elected: Patron, Sir Andrew Russell; president. Mr W. Perry; secretary, Mr E. G. Hewitt; treasurer, Mr A. E. Gorton.

LATEST ENROLMENTS

INCREASE OF FOUR HUNDRED • Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 7. The Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) announced to-day that the national reserve enrolments were now 6036, an increase of 430 on yesterday. PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL A DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 7. Disappointment with the response to the appeal by the Government for enrolments in the National Military Reserve was expressed by the Prime Minister in an interview this evening. He said the number of applications for enrolment had not come up to expectations. He intended soon to repeat his appeal to men to enrol.

“ I asked every fit man between 20 and 55 years of age to enrol in the reserve, but a pretty small percentage of able-bodied men in New Zealand appear to have volunteered.” said Mr Savage. ’* We are not asking people to enrol just for the good of one’s health. No doubt, 1000 men are simply putting off filling in the enrolment cards in a procrastinating spirit, not because they are opposed to doing so, The necessity for enrolment will, however, be obvious to everyone in view of the state of the world to-day. I propose soon to repeat my appeal to able-bodied men to enrol in the reserve.”