FLOW OF RECRUITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20043, 15 September 1939, Page 6

FLOW OF RECRUITS

OVER 3700 IN NORTH NO LOSS IN SALARY CITY COUNCIL DECISION MEN ON ACTIVE SERVICE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Volunteers for the special military orce tor service within or beyond the Dominion totalled 364 at the various centres in the Northern Military District yesterday, bringing the aggregate for the district up to 3762 tor .hree days of recruiting. Metropolitan enrolments at the Drill Hall were 78, making 1755 for the city in three days.

For other areas in the district, total enrolments up to to-night were:— Hamilton, 853; Paeroa, 693; Wliangarei, 461.

Members of the permanent staff of .he Auckland City Council who go on active service are to have their miliary pay augmented by an amount sufficient to bring payment up to that received in their normal employment, and their positions are to bo kept open for them until their return. This decision was made by the council last night.

Affirming Principle

In submitting a motion to this effect, the Mayor. Sir Ernest Davis, said it seemed to him desirable that me council should at once affirm this principle, so that any members of the staff who were about to enlist lor service would know that they were going to be looked after by the council.

The Mayor said the council should protect from loss those of its staff ,vho took up arms for the country, and it was appropriate that the council, as the largest local authority in New Zealand, should give the lead. He therefore moved as a minimum:— “(1) That assurance be given to nembers of the council’s permanent staff who undertake war service that heir positions will be safeguarded Juring their absence and made availible to them after their demobilisa.ion

"(2) That the council make itself responsible, for the payment of any difference of the pay between the military rate and an officers’ remuneration in order to bring it up to his .usual rate of salary.” The motion was carried.