MORE THAN 6000 VOLUNTEERS FOR THE K FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 August 1950, Page 5

MORE THAN 6000 VOLUNTEERS FOR THE K FORCE

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA»— It is expected that more than 6000 volunteers from New Zealand will be available for selection for tHe K Force.

Recruiting closed on Saturday 4t noon. Although the final figures were not to hand tonight, the Army authorities stated that the approximate total was slighly more than 6000, with 110 officers.

At the close of recruiting yesterday Auckland’s total had reached 1500, and Wellington had just more than 1000 volunteers. The Deputy-Chief of the General Staff, Colonel H. E. Gilbert, Satd tonight: "The response certainly has been most heartening.” A good proportion of officers had come forward, and there would have been even more if the actual requirements had been more precisely known.

“The whole response reveals again evidence that the people are ready for any call,” Colonel Gilbert stated. There were bound to be many disappointments to those who would not be required. Medical examinations will be of a high standard and other aspects would be taken into consider, ation, such as marital status and age groups.

Final plans for entry into camp have yet to be completed. Recruits would be called up in district quotas for entry into Burnham, Linton and Papakura. The final training would be in the form of a more concentrated syllabus at Waiouru. One woman and four Maoris were among the last six volunteers for the K Force at the Area 5 recruiting office in Wellington on Saturday morning. At noon the doors were closed and the call for volunteers was officially finished. The response was fairly slow. Five minutes after the doors closed a man arrived and pushed through. He was accepted. An announcement of the start o’ medical examinations caused many

anxious inquiries from volunteers whs had not received advice to report. It was pointed out by the Army that the names of applicants are handed to the Labour and Employment Department, who handle all aspects ot the preliminary mobilisation.