POOR RESPONSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1939, Page 7

POOR RESPONSE

PRIME MINISTER’S DEFENCE APPEAL DISAPPOINTMENT EXPRESSED. CALL TO BE REPEATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Disappointment with the response to the appeal by the Government for enrolments in the national military reserve was expressed by the Prime Minister. Mr. Savage, in an interview las< evening. He said the number ol ap plications for enrolment had not come up to expectations, and that he intended soon to repeat his appeal to able bodied men to enrol.

“I asked every fit man between 20 and 55 years of age to enrol in the reserve. but a pretty small percentage of (he able-bodied men in New Zealand appear to have volunteered.” said Mr. Savage. “We are not asking people to enrol just for the good of one’s health. No doubt thousands of men are simply putting off filling in enrolment cards in a procrastinating spirit, and hot because they are opposed to doing so. However, the necessity for enrolment will be obvious to everyone in view of the state of the world today, and I propose soon to repeat my appeal to able-bodied men to enrol in the reserve.” ENROLMENTS TO DATE. Applications for enrolment in the New Zealand National Military Reserve now total 6036. Of that number 780 applicants are not eligible for service, due mainly to being over the prescribed maximum age of 55 years The return of enrolments to date re fers only to applications received and classified at the 12 central post office? corresponding to the 12 military areas The total for the Dominion as a whole will therefore be higher when the er. rolment cards from outer districts come to be counted. So far the Wellington military district leads with close on 990 enrolments. Auckland is next with nearly 900. Returns from the other postal districts are: —Christchurch, 541; Hamilton, 525: Napier, 453; Dunedin, 440; Invercargill, 338; Wanganui, 294; Pab merston North, 290; New Plymouth 249; Nelson, 214; Thames, '199; Gisborne 193; Timaru. 131; Oamaru, 85; Greymouth. 76; Blenheim, 71; Westport, 49.

MILITARY CAMPS ATTENDANCE OF TEACHERS IN SCHOOL TIME. POLICY OF THE AUCKLAND BOARD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 7. The principle of teachers attendin’ military camps during school time was approved by the Auckland Education Board today, thereby revoking a pre vious decision that attendance by the school officers be confined to vacations Two teachers applied for leave, anc the Director of Education asked the board to define its attitude. The chairman, Mr W. J. Campbell said that changed circumstances demanded a change in policy. The Hon. A. Burns, M.L.C.. said that the arming and training of men mighf bq a means of averting war. The board's resolution suggested tha‘ where possible camps be held during vacations. --