NATIONAL EMERGENCY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1938, Page 6

NATIONAL EMERGENCY

RESERVE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. MATTER FOR INDIVIDUALS. A proposal to form a national emergency reserve of returned soldiers between the ages of 40 and 50, which was brought before a general meeting of the Wairarapa R.S.A. held in the Savage Club’s rooms last night, was briefly discussed. It was agreed that the matter of joining should be left to the individual.

A circular on the subject was received from the headquarters of the New Zealand R.S.A. It was stipulated that the men in the reserve must have had military service and that the reserve would be used for home defence in any future national emergency that might arise. Mr R. Whyborn, who presided, said enrolment was a matter for the individual. He believed that the great majority of those eligible had responsibilities that they would have to consider before enroling. A great number of the Diggers today could be regarded as key men on the home front. He was confident that the younger men would respond if an emergency arose, the same as they themselves had in the Great War.' He moved that the letter lie on the table and that it be a personal matter whether members enrolled or not.

The motion was seconded by Mr H. G. Alexander.

Speaking on behalf "of the many inarticulate Diggers,” Mr J. G. Hanaghan said he personally very strongly resented the action of the Dominion executive of the R.S.A. in offering up gratuitously to the gods of war the war-wracked men of the association. It was a matter, he believed, that could well be shelved, as the Government was doing all it could for the defence of the country. If the country were in any danger he was sure the Diggers would fall over themselves to defend

it. , In the course of further discussion it was stressed that the appeal was purely a voluntary one that rested with the individual. Mr H. H. Daniell expressed his belief that it was not always advisable to leave the matter of joining up to the last minute. On the motion being put to the meeting, it was carried on the voices.