THE RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

Patea Mail, 8 January 1940, Page 2

THE RECRUITING CAMPAIGN

PUBLIC MEETING A lueetiug convened by His -Worship the Mayor was held in the Borough Council 'Chambers on Friday to consider what steps should be taken fo assist the authorities in their campaign for recruits for the second echelon and subsequent echelons of the Special ' Force. His Worship read-the following letters from'Captain Henry, Area Officer for Area Xo. S: — 1 . Dear Sir, — i With reference to the'attached letter which has been sent to all-or-ganisations in Taranaki, it would . bo £ . greatly appreciated if you would assist the Recruiting Campaign by -calling a Public Meeting as soen as possible to enable Taranaki to maintain the quota required for the Special’ Force, . Any assistance you and your Council can render will be much appreciated. > Thanking you in anticipation, Yours faithfully, • ; j ; j. X. HEXEY, v Capt. X.Z.S.C. Area Officer, Area Xo. 8 Sir/or Madam, — > With reference to the announcement lin the Press on /the 16th December by the Minister of Defence, a Xational Campaign is being launched for recruits for the 2,nd and subsequent echelons of the Special Force. So far, for the 2nd Echelon, the re* ' sponafe throughout Taranaki is poor, the number still required, fo complete the quota of fit men approximately 250 men are required to register to allow for medical unlitness etc. among the volunteers, , • In the Mobilisation Camps the ma- • jority of men from Taranaki Province ■ are posted to the Taranaki Company or Troop, and maintain that identity in 'the Echelon, If men from other districts have to -be drafted into the Taranaki Company to bring it up to strength, it will be seen that the significance of the word “Taranaki” is' lost. During the Great War the .Taranaki units were fully reinforced by ’ men from Taranaki and it is since really hoped that this will take place during the present war, and we feel sure that if the young men. of the Province realise this there would be no : trouble in obtaining the numbers required. * 'fi We, therefore, ask your assistance in this recruiting campaign, (I) by bringing it to the notice of members (2) by supporting any public meetings that may be called (3) in- any; general way which on consider "would help; • Fop your information, we state that fcie considered opinion of the Executive of X.Z.R.S.A. which represents 30,000 ex-servicemen, was to assist the Government in any way possible and to get behind the recruiting drive ■ with all the strength and power of the Association. The Xew Zealand Defence League is also . behind' the campaign. • " •

The 2nd Echelon is due to. depart for Mobilisation Camps on January 12th, so we would appreciate it if you 'would regard this appeal as,very urgent. Registration forms are obtainable at all Post Offices, 'Railway Stations, and Army Offices. j Yours faithfully, * J. N. HENRY, , ' - ' • Capt. N.Z.S.C. Area Officer, Area No. S’. Mr. J. N. Anderson moved, that in view of the fact that .our country is at war, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that every man of militaiy age within the Empire, should go t<x_the assistance of the Motherland. ' ■ His Worship said compulsory military service was all very well in peace time, but the country was at war, and at behoved every man to do all in his power to prevent the enemy triumphing. “We had - been congratulating 'Ourselves/* (said ,His Worship, “on only having to fight on one front, but if Russia entered the fray against ns, which seemed likely to happen within a few: weeks or even days, we would ; . be lighting on more fronts than we were in the Groat War. Life wvouid ■ not be worth; living if Germany triumphed, for instead of having what wo now had, British justice, we would, have to live under a law of “might is right. ,r His" Worship quoted instances of cruelties inflicted upon prisoners In j,he concentration camps in Germany, . and stated that would be the fate of many nn this country and other parts of the British deminions if Germany won the’war. ■■ The resolution was put and carried without dissent. v . The meeting then rose.