MANPOWER MOBILISED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 11

MANPOWER MOBILISED

MILITARY STRENGTH RESULT OF VOLUNTEERING TOTAL OF 80,000 MEN PRE-WAR ORGANISATION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday The organsiation for national security set up in 1937 was responsible for the efficient mobilisation of New Zealand’s resources upon and i since the outbreak of war, said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when reviewing in an address

last night the progress of recruiting. When the voluntary system ended on July 22, said the Minister, some 80,000 men had volunteered for service overseas with the Navy, Army and Air Force. Already the Army had a division in training, together with reinforcements and special units, and there were also enough men available for the fourth and fifth reinforcements, together with some toward the sixth reinforcements. This would give the country a war strength in the Army of 30,000 men. War Book Prepared Such an outstanding success as New Zealand’s war effort had been could only be achieved, Mr Jones continued, by the splendid spirit of the people and the close co-ordination of military and civil effort already cemented before the war started. The national security organisation set in motion in 1937. resulted in the preparation of a War Book which contained such precise instructions over every field that when the emergency occurred each department could proceed at once to its allotted task. Mr Jones said the voluntary period from September 12 to July 22 had resulted in 63,740 men, including 4103 Maoris, coming forward for the Expeditionary Force; over 14,000 more men volunteering for the Air Force; about 2600 offering for the Navy; and several thousands applying for home defence service. Even allowing for double enlistments, accounted for by men turned down in one centre applying elsewhere, the total offers still amounted at a conservative estimate to 80,000. Although he said a comparison was hardly fair, in this war the voluntary system lasted for about 10 months and yielded this magnificent total, Mr Jones continued. In the first 15 months of the last war 54,000 men volunteered for service. Thus the figures this time had doubled, while there had been only a 25 per cent increase in the numbers of men of military age. Territorial Strength Outlining the country’s home defence preparations, Mr Jones said that this duty fell on the territorials and men of the National Reserve, Class 11. Before the war started, the Government had raised the strength of the territorials to 16,000. On May 20 last it was increased to war establishment, and, although good progress had been made with recruiting, 3500 men being added since then, ballots would be taken to the extent that numbers fell short of requirements. The Minister said the Government had completed 678 buildings for the forces, with a floor area of nearly 1,000,000 square feet, and had also supplied all the essential services for these buildings. Civilian co-opera-tion had resulted in the production of over 500,000 pairs of socks, 250,000 pairs of boots, 130,000 pairs of blankets and 84,000 battle dress uniforms and other clothing.

FIRST AT PEAK AIR TRAINING SCHEME PROMISE EASILY EXCEEDED PERSONNEL WITH NAVY (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday The claim that New Zealand would reach the peak of its contribution to the Empire air training scheme before all other Dominions was made by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in an address last night. In addition to the men undergoing training in New Zealand, said Mr Jones, there were 710 New Zealand pilots in the Royal Air Force in England. Some were in the separate New Zealand Squadron in the Bomber Command, flying the Vickers W/jllington machines that were to have been flown to New Zealand but for the war. Other New Zealanders were in the Coastal Command. New Zealanders throughout the war had been in the forefront in tlv operations of the Royal Air Force. 13 Receive D.F.C. Already 13 awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross had been made to New Zealanders, one had received the Distinguished Flying Medal, three were in the last honours list as being awarded the Air Force Cross, and four had been mentioned in despatches. Mr Jones said that in 1938 the Government had promised England that in case of war she would provide 1000 pilots a year; this figure was increased last year to 1300now, due largely to pre-war groundwork, the Government was enabled to provide nearly three times that number of pilots, observers and air-gunners. Other work done included the completion of over SO flying fields and the placing in a general reserve before the war of 6000 skilled tradesmen. Navy and Reserve Dealing with the contribution to the Navy, the Minister said that before the war there were 82 officers and 1257 men; now there were 211 officers and 2429 men. After bringing ships up to full # complement and having enough ’also for ail port services, there had been sufficient for a large number to be spared to Great Britain. Only three months ago 25 officers and 222 men had left in a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve draft for England. Ten young officers had also been sent to the China Station under special entry, and 50 technical ratings had gone with ihe R.N.V.R. men to England. A further special entry call was recently made for about 200 candidates for eventual commissioning. By tb/j closing date at the end of June, 1241 applications had been received, and a special board was travelling through the Dominion interviewing these men.