RESPONSE OF YOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 9

RESPONSE OF YOUTH

By Telegraph—Press Association.

PRAISE FROM MINISTER APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS OBSTACLES OF DISTANCE

Wellington, Last Night. "The response this week from the young manhood of New Zealand has been truly magnificent," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-day. "Not only in numbers but also in physique the volunteers who rushed us on the first day and who have been coming forward steadily every day since are among the pick of the nation, and in every way worthy of the fine traditions established by New Zealand troops in the South African War and the Great War. "The flow uontinues, and, although our requirements for immediate training are more than nlled, it has beeri deeided to continue taking enlistments, for, as the acting Prime Minister stated in the House of Representatives this afternoon. after the first 6600 men have completed their training they will be followed into camp by further echelons, according to a regular and pre-arranged plan, "Shortly we hope to be able to assist would-be volunteers in other than the main centres by opening reeruiting offices nearer to thqir homes. I fully recognise that so far recruits from country districts and from outlying townships have been put to considerable trouble to reach army offices. For example, there is at present no place of enlistment between Dunedin and Invercargill, a distance of almost 140 miles, or between Gisborne and Napier, which is even farther, "This obstacle has not deterred hundreds of young men who have travelled long distances to present themselves for service, but it will be only fair, as far as we can manage it, to give the smaller centres equal facilities with those already provided in the centres."