The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1939. TROOPS FOR OVERSEAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 6

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1939. TROOPS FOR OVERSEAS

If for no other reason than that it removes the uncertainty that existed, the announcement that the first echelon of the special New Zealand force is to be despatched overseas is to be welcomed. The decision will serve, also, to bring home to the people of the Dominion the fact that they have a direct ancl important contribution to make towards the Empire’s cause. Hitherto, New Zealand's

interest has been too indirect and too impersonal to cause the people as a whole to appreciate the responsibilities which the country must expect to carry for the duration of the war. With the despatch of the first echelon and the recruiting and subsequent embarkation of regular reinforcements the position will be vastly changed and the Dominion’s war effort, in this respect at least, will be more comparable to that of 1914. The decision now announced was not unexpected, and cannot have been hastily made, since some time ago the British Secretary for War publicly announced that they were looking forward to the time when the British Expeditionary Force in France would be reinforced by troops from the Dominions. It is reasonable to assume that the first New Zealand contingent will sail in the near future and that it will be follower by others at regular intervals.

Certainly at cannot be said that there has been precipitate action, because at this stage of the Great War New Zealand had sent a force to occupy Samoa, the Main Body and First Reinforcements were on the water and the Second Reinforcements were in training; more men had actually left New Zealand than have been called up on this occasion. The first echelon, however, has now had seven weeks training and the officers for the second echelon have been selected. The groundwork for the force, therefore, has been laid and it remains only to build upon it. Particular satisfaction will be felt at the announcement that the New Zealand forces overseas will be commanded by such a distinguished soldier as MajorGeneral Freyberg, more particularly as, although not actually a New Zealander, he has a direct connection with the Dominion and spent a good many years of his life in this country. The very fact that it has such an outstanding leader should be an inspiration to the force which he will command. There will be satisfaction, also, in the knowledge that MajorGeneral Duigan is not to be called upon to leave New Zealand but that his services will be used to the maximum possible extent in the important work of raising and training men at this end.

It is to be assumed, and certainly to be hoped, that the knowledge that troops are to be sent overseas will supply a much-needed stimulus to recruiting in the Dominion. The initial response to the appeal for volunteers was highly satisfactory, but the same view cannot be taken of the subsequent rate of enlistment. The comparative dilatoriness of eligible men, however, was doubtless largely due to the uncertainty of the positipn, more particularly since there appeared to be

a danger that, after a period of training, recruits might be returned to civilian life on indefinite leave without pay. In these circumstances, it was asking a good deal to expect a man to throw up regular employment for a military career of doubtful duration. Now that it has been definitely decided that the forces will be despatched overseas the position is vastly changed and it will be surprising if there is not a prompt response to the renewed call for recruits. The need now becomes an urgent one, because it is clear that in some districts, at least, there are not nearly sufficient volunteers available to fill the second echelon which is liable to be called up at an early date. That this position should exist at such an early stage in the provision of the force is to be deplored, and it remains to be seen whether it is due to past uncertainty or to other causes. Even now it is necessary for the Government to look ahead and plan for the future. From the outset, the Allied Governments have made it clear that their preparations are based on the war lasting for three years or longer. New Zealand must

work on the same assumption and be ready to despatch regular reinforcements for a similar period. This will require no small effort and even now it is not too soon to ask whether the task can be performed under the system of voluntary recruitment. The next few weeks should provide the answer, and if the answer is not satisfactory the Government should not hesitate to provide for conscription. It will be necessary, also, to make other far-reaching adjustments in the economy of the Dominion. It is not reasonable, for instance, to expect thal men will volunteer for the hazardous occupation of the army for a nominal payment of 7s a day and their keep when a minimum rate of 17s a day is

being paid to the army of 23,000 men on public works. The question of “reserved occupations” is another that demands immediate attention. With possibly a few minor exemptions, the most essential occupation at the present time is on the land, yet a majority of the recruits who have so far offered their services are farm workers; the army is vying with public works in competition for labour that should be left on the farms. Bound up with the question of recruiting, therefore, is the whole organisation of man-power and this should be taken in hand without further delay.