HOME DEFENCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 29 August 1939, Page 5

HOME DEFENCE

TRAINED FORGE URGED, MEN 21 TO 35 YEARS THREE MONTHS’ SERVICE CALL FROM AUCKLAND (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. • ' A unanimous expression of their conviction that New Zealand is not sufficiently prepared for a national emergency, a call to the Government to organise the whole of the manpower of the country and a statement of their personal readiness to serve and co-operate, were made at a meeting of Auckland business men yesterday. The meeting was called by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association and the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association with whom were associated other associations of citizens. , Resolutions were carried and are to be brought at the earliest possible moment before the attention of the Government. Need For Training- ~ ; The first resolution was: “That this meeting of citizens of Auckland records its recognition of the magnitude of the Government's preparations for the defence of New Zealand and, jn view of the gravity of the international situation, earnestly recommends the immediate establishment ’of a home defence force composed of men between 'the ages of 20 and 35 years to receive not less than three months continuous training in order that the officers and men may be adequately prepared to encounter any enemy force that may, in the event of war, attack New Zealand.”

The second resolution was: “Further, this meeting, being convinced of the necessity for hastening preparations for safeguarding New Zealand, also strorigly recommends that immediate action should be taken to organise all other members of the community for their, contribution to national defence in emergency.”

Women’s Fine Example

“We are fiddling while Rome burns,” said Mr. H. O. Wiles. Ihe women of tile country were setting a fine example and it was up to the men to follow them. was appalled at the state of unpreparedness and dismayed by the figures given him by a very highly placed military officer when the territorial forces numbered 9000 men. Of these 2000 were unfit for active service, 4000 were not sufficiently trained and only the ridiculously small total of 3000 could be said to be ready for duty.

He also felt very critical about the attitude of the Government to many young men who had volunteered for service with the Royal Naval Volunteer ,Reserve. He knew many who after four or five months’ waiting had not even received acknowledgment of their willingness to serve.