MILITARY RESERVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 10

MILITARY RESERVE

RETURNED SOLDIERS APPEAL BY ASSOCIATION STIMULATION OF RECRUITING The following circular has been issued to branches by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association:— “ Following upon the statements over the air by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) and the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), the Dominion Executive Committee has been advised that all ex-service men, who have already completed and sent in their enrolment cards for the National Military Reserve, are requested to obtain the new form of enrolment and once more enrol. Apparently, there are some additional details required, and uniformity is desired. “The Dominion Executive, at its meeting on May 30, unanimously passed a resolution in support of the recent appeal made by the Prime Minister regarding the defence of New Zealand, It was stressed that for some years now, while other bodies have been quiescent in this, matter* the association has annually passed resolutions regarding this vital question and presented them to the Government. It. therefore, is most gratifying that the Prime Minister has seen fit to make his broadcast appeal. The resolution continued that, while it is recognised that the matter of volunteering is one for individual ex-servicemen, the executive should urge all exservicemen to support the association and respond to the call, pointing out that the concentrated training of the returned soldier, combined with his experience, would encourage and stimulate the enrolment of young men who, it is felt, are just as anxious as the older ones are to achieve the desired result. One of. the members suggested that this may be the last opportunity of a man becoming a real ‘ digger ’ again, a title he once was proud of. “Needless to say, this question of enrolment of ex-servicemen and the encouragement of recruiting of young men for the Territorials, Air Force, Navy, etc., in each district is vitally important, and the Dominion Executive urges every association and every member of each branch to use their energies and to co-operate in making the result of this appeal for men who have seen active service a success and an inspiration to the whole of the Dominion.” STRENGTH OF RESERVE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 8. The military reserve total to-day is 6344—an increase of 308 since yesterday.