SECOND ECHELON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1939, Page 4

SECOND ECHELON

UNCERTAINTY ABOUT CALLING UP MEN OFFICERS GOING INTO CAMP NEXT WEEK. RECRUITING IN WAIRARAPA ALMOST (CEASES. Although officers for the Second Echelon of the Special Military Force are to go into eamp next week, there is considerable speculation as to when the rank and file will be called up. Moreover, there was general expectation that non-commissioned officers would go into camp at the same time as the officers but no advice of any such intention has yet been received. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, stated recently that the Second Echelon would enter camp at some time in December, but no date has yet been fixed and the view is held in some quarters that the men will not be called up until after Christmas. It is suggested that an early announcement of the position is desirable, as it would enable a number of young men to complete their business and private arrangements in good time. Enlistments in the Wairarapa have practically ceased and it is somewhat signified that out of 298 who have enrolled, almost 100 have gone into camp and 50 of these who have enlisted and have not yet been medically examined are married men. Only about forty enrolments were recorded in October, and most of those were in the early part of the month. It is to be expected that opportunity will be given to selected men in the First Echelon to qualify as senior noncommissioned officers in the second draft, but to do this to any great extent would affect the present units. While their experience would certainly be of value in the Second Echelon, the withdrawal of any substantial number of men would be merely robbing Peter to pay Paul. Several potential non-commissioned officers in the Wairarapa for the Second Echelon are impatiently awaiting instructions, especially as they had been given to understand that they would be entering camp at the same time as the officers. In several instances, in anticipation of this, they had given up their employment. It is stated that since the district schools of instruction are said to be reopening for the Territorial Force, there cannot be any question of shortage of accommodation or instructors for these men who are ready to give their services in a wider field. ■*' OFFICERS CALLED UP WAIRARAPA-HAWKE’S BAY AREA. TWO FROM MASTERTON. The following officers from the Wai-rarapa-Hawke’s Bay area will go into camp on Wednesday of next week: Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery: Lieut. J. D. Baybutt (Masterton) and Lieut. G. M. Beaumont, who will proceed to Ngaruawahia. Lieut- Baybutt will leave Masterton next Tuesday. The following will proceed to Trentham: —

Divisional Signallers (reinforcements): Lieut. H. W. Robins. Rifle Battalion, Headquarters Company, Carrier Platoon: Second-Lieut. D. F. Anderson. Hawke’s Bay Company: Second-in-Command, Captain W. Bourke; subalterns, Lieut. I. A. Hart (Masterton), Lieut. K. R. S. Craver. Divisional Petrol Company, B section: Lieut. G. A. E. Hook.