NATIONAL RESERVE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4194, 9 June 1939, Page 7

NATIONAL RESERVE

ATTITUDE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION. A LOCAL APPEAL. Following the statements over the air by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence, the Dominion executive committee of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has been advised that it is necessary that all ex-service men who have already completed and sent in their enrolment cards for the National Military Reserve are requested to obtain the new form of enrolment and once more enrol. Apparently there are some additional details required, and uniformity is desired. In a circular to all branches of the Returned Soldiers’ Association the general secretary quotes the statement issued by the Dominion executive committee, and adds: “Needless to say, this question of enrollment of ex-service men, and the encouragement of recruiting of young men for the Territorials, Air Force, Navy, etc. in each and every district is vitally important, and the Dominion executive committee urges every Association, and every member of each branch, to use their energies and to co-operate in making the result of this appeal for men who have seen active service a success and an inspiration to the whole of New Zealand.” The statement issued by the Dominion executive committee reads as follows: “The Dominion executive of the New Zealand E.etiirned Soldiers’ Association, at its meeting on 30th May, unanimously passed a resolution in support of the recent appeal .mad? by the Prime Minister regarding the defence of New Zealand. It was emphasised that for some years now, while other bodies had been quiescent in ttys matter, the Association has annually passed resolutions regarding this vital Question and presented them to the Government. It, therefore, is a most gratifying aspect that the Prime Minister has seen fit to make his broadcast appeal. The resolution continued that while it is recognised that the matter of volunteering is one for the individual ex-sei-vice man, the executive should urge all ex-service men to support the Association and respond to the call, pointing out that the concentrated training of the returned soldiers, combined with their experience, woulld encourage and stimulate the enrolment of the young men who, it is felt, are just as anxious as the older ones are to achieve the desired result. One of the members suggested that this may be the last opportunity of a man becoming a real ‘ Digger’ again, a title he once was proud of.”