PLEA MADE FOR ENROLMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23839, 9 June 1939, Page 7

PLEA MADE FOR ENROLMENTS

“EFFECTIVE REPLY TO COMPULSIONISTS” MR SAVAGE ASKS YOUNG MEN FOR SUPPORT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 8. “People are going about the country saying we must have compulsory military service,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) today, “but the young men of the country can make the most effective reply to that, although if they don’t enrol the compulsionists will surely win the argument.” The Prime Minister* was asked if he would favour compulsion under certain conditions but this provoked a prompt negative, Mr Savage declaring that compulsion was ’unnecessary although he was bound to say the young men were dilatory in enrolling. “Power politics are operating today in a bigger way than ever with combinations of nations against nations,” he continued. “I want to bring our young men together, not in a war spirit, but if the army is not used for war we will be better off. However, if the necessity arises it is better to be ready than to start running round in circles in an emergency. “I have told everyone that we can get the men voluntarily,” concluded Mr Savage, “and it is for our young men not to let me down. I am not asking them to go abroad, but to stand up for New Zealand’s defence within the Dominion.” The military reserve total today is 6344, an increase of 308 since yesterday. STEADY STREAM OF ENROLMENTS NATIONAL MILITARY RESERVE ! Since Monday, May 22, when the first enrolments were made for the National Military Reserve, 419 Southland men have enrolled. Of this total, 168 are from the city and 251 are from the country. Returned soldiers, numbering 135, are included in the total. The enrolments have been coming in steadily ever since the appeal was made at the rate of about 20 a day. Since May 30,193 enrolments have been received. DEER CULLERS JOIN RESERVE MR PARRY ALSO OFFERS SERVICES WELLINGTON, June 8. Seventeen field officers and four members of the head office staff of the wild life branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, with the ministerial head of the department (the Hon. W. E. Parry), called on the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) today to offer him their services for the defence of New Zealand. The field officers, who have been attending an official conference in Wellington, are engaged in deer destruction work in the bush and mountain ranges of the Dominion. Accepting the offer, Mr Savage expressed keen appreciation of the men’s action. Mr Savage also thanked on behalf of the Government the other 6000 men who had already enrolled in the National Military Reserve and appealed to others who had not already enrolled to do so without delay. AIR FORCE STAFF CHANGES GROUP CAPTAIN ISITT TO VISIT BRITAIN WELLINGTON, June 8. The Cabinet’s approval for Group Captain L. M. Isitt, A.D.C., air member for personnel on the New Zealand Air Board, to proceed to the United Kingdom in October for a short term of duty at the Air Ministry and to attend the Imperial Defence College during 1940 was announced this evening by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). “The visit of Group Captain Isitt to the United Kingdom necessitates other staff changes,” said Mr Jones, “and arrangements have been made for Squadron Leader E. G. Olson, Officer Commanding the Royal New Zealand Air Force Depot at Hobsonville, to be transferred to Air Force Headquarters from July 1 for staff duties. Squadron Leader H. B. Burrell, inspector of reserves, will take over the command of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Depot at Hobsonville, and the inspection of reserves will be undertaken by officers of the flying training school at Wigram.”