MILITARY RESERVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 7

MILITARY RESERVE

Nearly 10,000 Registrations YOUNG MEN MAKE POOR RESPONSE By releeraph Press Association WELLINGTON, June 22. Applications for enrolment in the New Zealand national military reserve are now near the 10,000 mark. The total at 9 a.m. to-day was 9508, representing an Increase of 257 within the last 24 hours and an average daily increase of 377 in the three classes of recruits. Wellington still leads with a total of 1423 and Auckland is second with 1349. If considered on a population basis, the other main centres are well behind. Christchurch, for instance, has a total of 938 applicants, while the Dunedin postal district has supplied only 655, which seems poor compared with Hamilton’s total of 801 and Napier’s return of 752. Other returns are as follows: Wanganui 608 Invercargill 484 Palmerston North 449 New Plymouth .. 351 Gisborne 340 Nelson 332 Thames 303 Timaru 212 Blenheim 155 Greymouth 138 Oamaru 132 Westport 86 So far the best returns are held by class 2 in the schedule of recruits for the national military reserve. They are returned soldiers and ex-regulars, between the ages of 35 and 55. and their total is 3876, which is more than three times the number of class 1 recruits. whose ages range from 20 to 35, and who have served during peace time for not less than two years in the New Zealand Territorial army or any of the military forces of the Empire The fact is that young men under 35 have made the poorest response to the appeal to the manhood of New Zealand to take an active part in the defence of the country which the Government claims to-day provides the best living and industrial conditions in the world Here are the comparative ngures:— Young men 1248 Middle aged men .. .. 3876 Men up to 55 years .. 2897