MILITARY RESERVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 6

MILITARY RESERVE

ENLISTMENT OF RETURNED MEN ATTITUDE OF ASSOCIATION From a discussion at the monthly meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association last night it would appear that, if the 4th Battalion of the National Military Reserve cannot be brought up to full strength by recruiting solely from exservicemen, the army authorities may make enlistment in the battalion available to Class 111 men. The meeting was attended by the president (Mr VV. K. Cameron), Messrs W. F,; Forres T . ter, A. McHutchon, D. S. Chisholm, L. G. Hill, C. R. 'McLdan, J.'M. White, G. H. Ferens. J. B. Stewart and J. McKnight. Not Up To Strength The discussion on the Military Reserve arose following the reading of a letter which was received from the area -staff officer (Major J. G. Jeffery) stating that on August 30 the strength of the 4th Battalion of the National Military Reserve had reached a total, enlisted and. attested, of 400 men. The unit was to be recruited to 770. and it was desired that this establishment should be reached as soon as possible. As it appeared that ft would not be possible to bring the battalion up to strength by recruiting from returned soldiers only, and as returned soldiers had been given every opportunity of enlisting, the Army Department. wished to know if the executive of the association would be agreeable to enlistment being made available to Class 111 men. After a brief discussion Mr Chisholm moved—“ That the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association executive, realising that a very reasonable opportunity had been afforded ex-servicemen to enlist in the 4th Battalion of the National Military Reserve, recognises that the military authorities must now take such steps as they deem fit to bring the battalion up to full strength. The executive would ask. however, that such'action should be postponed until September 20, so that the suggestion may be put before. ex-service-men.” The motion was seconded by Mr White and carried. Christmas Parcels Fund On the recommendation of the Relief Committee, it was decided to make a grant of £lO 10s to the fund for Christmas parcels for New Zealand soldiers overseas. General A small committee was set ■Up to consider the question of obtaining a more satisfactory issue’ of railway platform tickets for the next-of-kin of soldiers returning to camp after final leave. Eighteen new nominations were reported, and one application for membership was received.