LEAVING TODAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 6

LEAVING TODAY

Dunedin Recruits For Burnham MILITARY TRAINEES A party of 115 youths will leave Dunedin in a special train at 12.20 p.m. today for Burnham, where they will start their 14 weeks’ compulsory military training. They will be among the first New Zealanders called up for compulsory military training in peace-time for 20 years. It is estimated that about 3000 18-year-olds have been mobilised under the Military Training Act ot last year, and the majority of them will serve their training period in the army. Approximately 750 South Island youths have received calling-up notices, and will enter Burnham, where they will do six weeks’ basic training and then eight weeks’ corps training, after which they will be posted to territorial units in their districts. About 160 youths are eligible for service under the scheme in the Dunedin district of the Department of Labour and Employment, and of this number 14 are air force recruits and four ravy recruits. The recruits leaving Dunedin for Burnham today will join a special train from Invercargill which will stop at stations along the route. It will leave Dunedin at 12.20 p.m. On Thursday, 73 naval recruits from throughout the Dominion will arrive at HMNZS Philomel before entering HMNZS Tamaki on Motuihi Island. Auckland, for training, and on May 20 about 85 South Island air force recruits will arrive at Taieri. Ground and air-crew training at the station will commence on May 22, and when this is completed the recruits will be posted to territorial squadrons for technical instruction.