INTERIM ARMY NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1946, Page 2

INTERIM ARMY NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE

"Whai do you lliink are the icasons ,i hy c.\ sei v lccmen aie not coining i'orwanJ in gieatcr iiumiier for enlist meiit ' " ,ll(' 1 nleriiu Army.'" *J'his quesl.ion was put lo tho prosideiils of tiig 'lluvo ex-sei \ iccincn 's orgauisat ions ' iu Auckland wliose ineiuliorsliip enibraces loimer Army mon*. 'J'lioir answers were: ■Mr. A. 1*. i'est lewaite, president of ihe Auekland b'.tS.A.: II ihe Army will give iuoii a delinite umlertaKing that they will get permanent emjiloymeut in the regular I'orees then they will get tbem, I'lil nnl oi herwiso. You cauuot o\peel meii who have returned after some years' absenee and "are trying to reliabililate themseh es to \ oluhteer for ' Ihe I iiierim Army for 12 or 1-S inouths. After all, those inen have got lo a slage wherw they have got to taKe life seriouslv. Men sliould be enc ouraged to cniisl , and lliey will if they get somoihijig (ieimite about their future. '' M r. F. L. Thw aites, Doniinion jire siden! of the Seeorul N.Z.K.F. Associal ion : . ' , "ll is obvious tliat in asking nion lo joiu Ihe 1 nleriin • A nny on Ihe torrus olU'red the aullioritios aio"- merelv coiupoting on the e-asual labour" market at eastial rates of ' pay. 'I'Jie terms of serviee are two years at the most aird lliere are no ' prospects for ox-serviec-men gott ing permanenf , employment. The young fellovv loaving seho'oJ. also wanls Lo see some prospeefs before he decides to joiu tlie iu.terim force. It will appeal only to the few ex-'servicemen who are not able to settle down. Trut.il tl'.o (roveniiueiit brings down some policy which offers prospects to men to on ter the regular I'orees I feel that the rcsponso to apjieals will be few." J1 r. K. .Wills, president of the Auckland branch of tho N;Z. Homeserviceiiien 's Association : " Fv servicemen nro not comiiig forwaril because they are tired of the Army. The young nian is not tenipted lo joiu the Tntfrim Army as Tio is able ! to conunand higher wages in civilian ifo, anrl those who ilo sign on for one

or two years mav loso valtiabie oxporience in their particular jobs. Tho Army lias lislcd a numbor of trades in which mon aro going" to bo trained, but 1 would like to know where tliis training is going to lu: carriod out. From • my exporienco, I would say that thore are only two Ordnanco dejiots whero this specialisod training can bo given. I think tliat there sliould be some more delhtile stateinent of policy. If there is a slaudiiig Army in Ihis country then few men. exeept those who have graduated from Army colJeges and sta'fl' collecres will havo any hope of reaching coiiunissioned rank. YYhv not aece.]it mon for a pvobationary jieriod and then appoint thein direct to the regular forees.'"