VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4185, 13 September 1939, Page 6

VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT

FIRST DAY’S TOTAL OF 6655. MANY AIR FORCE RECRUITS. Applause greeted the announcement in the House of Representatives by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, that up to nine o’clock last night a total of 6655 registrations of volunteers for military service within or beyond New Zealand had been made. Mr Jones, who spoke immediately before the House adjourned said the total was made up as follows: Northern Military District— Auckland, 1279; Paeroa area, 466; Whangarei area, 356; Hamilton area, 530. District total, 2631. Central Military District.—Wellington, 1157; Wanganui, 353; Napier, 540; Hawera, 444. District total, 2494. Southern Military District. —Christchurch, 620; Dunedin, 330; Nelson, 300; Invercargill, 280. District total 1530. The Minister said the ready response of the young men of New Zealead had been most striking. In addition, there had been a wonderful answer to the appeal for recruits for the Air Force. “I think members will join me in expressing appreciation to these young men,” added Mr Jones.

THE LOCAL RESPONSE. TOTAL EXCEEDS ONE HUNDRED. NOT ENOUGH ENROLMENT FORMS. As with practically all other centres in the Dominion, there was quite a sustained demand at the Te Awamutu post office yesterday for voluntary enlistment in the military force of 6600 men decided upon by the Government. A supply of seventy forms had been received from the authorities at Hamilton; but these proved quite insufficient, notwithstanding the fact that a dozen or two young men from Te Awamutu and neighbourhood jouitieyed to Hamilton to personally tender their services. Inquiry at the post office this morning shows that the seventy forms were al! applied for, and distributed, and that about thirty other applications were made, but deferred pending receipt of a new supply of forms. Thus Te Awamutu had well over one hundred enlistments in the one day. A further supply of forms, expected this morning, did not arrive from Hamilton, but are promised for this afternoon. The type of young man enrolling is a splendid one, and one observer mentioned that he doubted if a better-all-round type could be found anywhere. Included in the number were several prominent footballers, who have set an example of good sportsmanship on the field of play and will surely carry that example into the much more serious task ahead.