NEW ARMY UNITS FOR OVERSEAS

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 6

NEW ARMY UNITS FOR OVERSEAS

Minister Announces Formation RAILWAY AND FORESTRY COMPANIES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 14. The immediate establishment of additional specialized military units has been decided upon by the Government, according to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) as a result of consultations with the British Government. The units now to be formed are one railway survey company, one railway instruction company, two railway operating companies, two forestry companies and two army troop companies. The types of men wanted to fill the railway operating companies are blacksmiths, boilermakers, carpenters, coppersmiths, clerks, transportation • plant drivers, engine-drivers, locomotive firemen, fitter-drivers, fitters, lifters, storemen, blacksmiths’ strikers, shunters and porters, tinsmiths, wagon erectors, stationary engine stokers, internal combustion drivers and cooks. . Applications for leave to enlist in the railway operating companies should be submitted to the General Manager of Railways through the applicants respective controlling officers in time .o reach Wellington on or before Friday, June 21. ; “Applicants are required to be between 21 and 40 years of age and physically fit for service in any part of the world,” Mr Jones said. “Preference will be given to single men but married men may be accepted. Consideration will also be given to the enlistment oi members up to the age of 45 years. MESSAGES TO WORKERS

“I have asked the Ministers of Railways, Public Works and Forestry to issue messages to the workers under their control and they have kindly responded to my request,” Mr Jones said. He quoted a statement by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) who made an appeal to all railwaymen for the formation of two railway operating companies for service overseas to be manned entirely by officers and men of the railway service. The following personnel are required for the railway survey companv: Clerks, draughtsmen, fitter-turners, engineering surveyors and men for other survey duties. For the railway construction company the men needed are blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners. For the railway construction company the men required are draughtsmen, transportation plant drivers and drivers, fitters, signal fitters, masons, painters, platelayers, plumbers and gasfitters, riggers, rivetters, technical storemen, railway surveyors, acetylene and electric welders, blacksmiths’ strikers and stokers. Mr Jones said that the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) had issued a circular letter appealing to officers and employees of his department who were physically fit and otherwise met the requirements to offer themselves for enlistment. The general conditions were that the men must be between 21 and 45 years of age and fit for service in any part of the world, with preference to single men though where these were not available married men with up to two children would be acceptable. Application forms were obtainable from engineers or other officers in charge of works and applicants were specially asked to forward the completed forms to the district or other engineer in whose area work was located. The Army authorities would arrange for the formal enrolment and medical examination of selected recruits after the applications had _ been considered by the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. Officers and employees who volunteered for the first railway group but who were not selected, were invited, if still available, to renew their applications. FORESTRY COMPANY

“The forestry company will consist of axemen, blacksmiths, carpenters, electricians, engine artificers, topographical draughtsmen, fitters, millwrights, sawyers, saw-doctors and wheelers," Mr Jones said. He quoted a message from the Commissioner of State Forests (the Hon. F. Langstone) referring to the fine type of men among New Zealand logging and sawmill operators. Mr Jones said that the recruitment of the corps was being carried out by the State Forest Service regional conservators at Auckland, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Nelson, Hokitika, Christchurch and Invercargill, who were handling enlistments as a preliminary to the selection of the Company which would be representative of every district in New Zealand. “In addition, it is also proposed to form two army troop companies,” Mr Jones added. “The types wanted to fill these vacancies are practically the same as those for the railway operating and railway construction units. Earlier this year similar units were recruited in New Zealand. The response on that occasion was most gratifying and I have no doubt that the enlistments will now be equally spontaneous and complete.”