FINAL MEETING HELD

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 4

FINAL MEETING HELD

NATIONAL RECRUITING COUNCIL

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 24.

The general desire of members to continue in any form activity that would further the prosecution of the war was warmly expressed at the third and last meeting today of the National Recruiting Council. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who presided, said the council would be given any work which the Minister of National- Service (the Hon. R. Semple) or the Defence Department could allot it at any time. The Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) said he had personally witnessed the activities of the council. He congratulated it on the way its meetings had been conducted. “I think it would be a national loss if your organization were disbanded. From day to day many occasions will arise when you could be of assistance in repatriation and also in compulsory service. I thank you sincerely on behalf of the Government and the people of the Dominion. You have done a great job.”

Reports were received by the council from all the recruiting districts, the general position being that the results were well up to requirements and where this, was not so the number awaiting acceptance was very satisfactory. Various methods keeping up the morale of the public were, discussed and a campaign decided upon. The Minister of Man-Power (the Hon. D. Wilson) said it was no reflection on the council that compulsory training had been brought in. He was convinced that voluntary recruiting could have been carried on successfully for another year. The arguments for compulsory training, however, outweighed those for the voluntary system and were certainly in accordance with the Government’s all-in policy.