RAILWAY BATTALION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21560, 24 January 1940, Page 8

RAILWAY BATTALION

SPLENDID RESPONSE OF MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS Bv TPlPßraph —Press Association CHRISTCHURCH. January 23. About 700 men employed on public works in New Zealand have volunteered for the special body of 377 men called for from Public Works and the Railway Department for service overseas in the construction of railways and other works, according to a statement by the Hon. R. Semple to-nighr. He said this figure did not include men who had volunteered from the Railway Department. "This body of volunteers includes men qualified in all kinds of occupations,” he Said. "They will be examined and those who are selected will go into camp immediate’v; Ido not know where, that is a matter for the army. This response is excellent and I am highly pleased with it. There were no recruiting meetings. An appeal was simply made and the men responded.” Mr Semple also referred to the response that had been made from the men in public works camps for the Expeditionary Force in general. "I am very pleased at the response of public works men in general enlistments,” said Mr Semple. “They are a fine type of men. Their work has made them physically fit and trained them for army life.”