“ABLE AND WILLING”

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20839, 24 June 1939, Page 11

“ABLE AND WILLING”

REPORT TO CONFERENCE RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RESPONSE Returned soldiers had demonstrated that they were able and willing to help defend New Zealand by providing searchlight detachments for the forts, states the annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which was adopted at the. annual conference of the association, and they had also offered to help in any way possible with the defence of the Dominion. “Throughout the past twelve months the unsettled state of the nations in the northern hemisphere has meant that the committee has taken even keener interest in the question of national dfence,” the report states. “This is in accordance with the N.Z. R.S.A. policy that New Zealand should be possessed of an adequate defence 1 force. “Following upon the decision of the last Dominion council in connection with the securing of personnel to man ' the searchlights and equipment at j Auckland and Wellington, the associa- j lions in those cities were within a few j weeks able to supply Ihe requisite j number. Reports from the officers in charge of these ex-servicemen indicate that they have been most satisfactoryin every phase of the work, and the men themselves are also very pleased at having shown their ability to serve again. National Reserve “Having demonstrated that ex-ser-vicemen are able and willing to come forward and accept their share of the responsibility of defending New Zealand, the Chief of the General Staff, in September, wrote the committee intimating that it had been decided to form a National Military Reserve composed of ex-servicemen’ between the ages of 40 and 50 years. The N.Z.R.S.A. was asked if it was prepared to assist in the formation of this

reserve. The committee immediately replied stating its desire to assist in every way, and did so. “The committee also circularised all associations outlining the decisions of the last Dominion council and giving details of the activities of various branches in stimulating recruiting and the assistance given to the formation ; of platoons which increased recruiting in many centres. “Throughout our whole organisation there are ex-servicemen eager to l assist in any scheme that will ensure » an increase in the man power of our ■ defence forces, particularly the land : forces. The committee has placed a : plan for the training of ex-servicemen ■ in the hands of the Minister of De- ‘ fence and awaits his decision. Dominion Membership “The financial membership has once , more increased,” the report states. ’ “The total at March 31 was 31,549, against 30,265 last year, and for ' twelve successive years the association > i has increased its financial member- | ship. Three new associations, Bulls, ’ i Whangaroa and Kerikeri, have been j affiliated, and there are now 90 affilij ated branches. Over 50 per cent of , the associations have exceeded the [ previous year’s membership and it is j | noticeable that 30 of the 40 branches ' j with membership between 100 and 300 | have shown inchrease. The memberI ship ladder indicates that Auckland, I still at the top, is only 130 ahead of ] Christchurch, and that Wellington has taken the third place from Dunedin. Wellington, with an increase of 433 members, has earned its promotion.”