CALL FOR RECRUITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1939, Page 6

CALL FOR RECRUITS

WAIRARAPA DISTRICT RESOLUTION MEETING OF LOCAL BODY REPRESENTATIVES. MINISTER URGED TO GIVE LEAD. Advantage was taken yesterday afternoon of a meeting of the local body representatives of the Wai,rarapa District in connection with Patriotic Funds to discuss the proposed recruiting campaign. There were present the representatives of eleven local bodies in the district. The chairman, Mr T. Jordan, brought the matter under the notice of. the meeting owing to a conversation ' which he had had on the preceding day with the Deputy-Mayor of Wellington. The latter had informed him that he had had an interview with the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones. in which the Minister sought his active co-operation in the campaign for recruits now being launched. Mr Jordan said he had expressed his own opinion to the Deputy-Mayor of Wellington, Mr Luckie, that the course he expected to be taken was for the Minister to take the public platform and open the campaign in favour of voluntary enlistment. that a mere appeal through the Press or by means of the radio did not seem to him to be sufficient and that if the Minister did take the platform it was the plain duty of the local bodies to assist as far as they were able, but that the initiative should remain with the Minister. As the matter was one of vital importance for everyone, the chairman invited an expression of opinion from those present. The meeting was in complete agreement with the statement made by him, but one or two of those present were strongly in favour of-the adoption forthwith of compulsory service as being the only fair means of supplying the necessary additions to the Forces. On the motion of Mr A. B. Martin, chairman of the Featherston County Council, the following resolution was carried:

“That this meeting of local body representatives in the Wairarapa district is of opinion that the campaign for voluntary enlistment should be opened by the Hon Minister of Defence by means of a public address and that thereafter the local bodies would willingly assist by all the means in their power.”

Two of the representatives recorded their votes against the resolution, stating that it was against their principles to assist the Government in voluntary enlistment as they regarded compulsory service as the only fair method for finding the men required.

WELLINGTON EFFORT THOUSAND MEN REQUIRED IN THREE WEEKS. BIG CAMPAIGN INITIATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Wellington’s recruiting effort to raise 1000 men for the second echelon of the Special Force within three weeks as well as to ensure a supply of men for the third echelon and subsequent reinforcements was launched last night at a meeting of citizens representing local bodies and organisations of the city and suburbs and the Hutt Valley. The deputy-mayor of Wellington, Mr M. F. Luckie, presided at the meeting, and on the platform were the mayoress, Mrs Hislop, and Lieutenant-Col-onel R. A. R. Row. D. 5.0., G. 5.0., officer commanding the Central Military District. The mayors of Lower Hutt, Petone, Upper Hutt, and Eastbourne were also present. Major E. Reeves, area officer for the No. 5 military area, said that in connection with the campaign it was proposed to have an intensive Press campaign as well as other publicity, propaganda. articles and photographs of military activity. There would also be an extensive radio campaign. Recruiting depots would be established at each post office and at most railway stations. In some cases shops would be taken in cities and recruiting depots set up. Coloured posters would be distributed and adequate publicity made available in shops, factories and other centres of mass employment. Letters would also be franked with suitable recruiting slogans. Other committees would be set up to deal with publicity, public speaking, propaganda, the giving of five-minute talks at street corners, in theatres, factories and the like. There would also be transport, finance and .entertainment committees. The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants had undertaken to provide a secretary, said Major Reeves.