MILITARY TRAINEES FROM WANGANUI. DISTRICT TO ENTER CAMP ON MAY 9

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 April 1950, Page 4

MILITARY TRAINEES FROM WANGANUI. DISTRICT TO ENTER CAMP ON MAY 9

The compulsory military training scheme for New Zealand approved by referendum last year will become an established fact in about a fortnight’s time, when the first draft of 18-year-olds will go into camp for their Initial 14 weeks’ training. Recruits from the Wanganui area, who will report at Linton Camp on May 9, will number 101. Fifty-eight of these trainees are from the Wan-ganui-Aramoho-Fordell-Turakina district, 23 from the Taumarunui-Oha-kune district, and 20 from the *Tat-hape-Marton district. The Army Department will arrange all transport for the recruits, who will be fitted out in their uniforms when they reach camp.

Since November last 182 18-year-olds have registered for military service at the Department of Labour and Employment, Wanganui. At March 31, 128 recruits had been medically boarded. Of this number 25 had been declared medically unfit for military service. The percentage of those passed fit for service is considered good. During this month a further 20 recruits were medically examined and another medical board has been arranged for the end of the month. Prior and March 31 the department had made 71 applicants available to the Army, and during this month about 90 recruits from the district qualified for service. On May 11 the Military Service Postponement Com* mittee will sit. in Wanganui to hear five applications. The hearings will mainly apply to students and teachers and May 11 was chosen as the date because it falls during the school vacation. From all the registrations received at Wanganui only one was a conscientious objector, who has since transferred to Christchurch.

Registrations are still being received at the rate of about one each day. It is estimated that at the end of the month 2QO registrations will have been made. It. is expected that in the next 12 months enough recruits will bo accepted to till the Army’s potential strength. The next camp will be held in January, 1951.