VOLUNTARY PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 46, 3 December 1938, Page 7

VOLUNTARY PLAN

BRITISH, NATIONAL SERVICE. IN TIME OF EMERGENCY. RECRUITING CAMPAIGN SHORTLY (United Press Association-Copyright.) LONDON, December 1.

The eagerly - awaited statement by Sir John Anderson (Minister in Charge of Civil Defence) on the meassures which the Government has decided to adopt to ensure that man-power and woman-power are organised in the most effective and practical way for voluntary service was made to-day in the House of Commons.

Sir John Anderson said he hoped to make a similarly comprehensive statement soon on other aspects of the responsibilities with which lie had been charged, namely, civil defence. Dealing with the national register, Sir John said that the Government had come to the conclusion that a compulsory register was not at present necessary or desirable, though it might become necessary, and for that reason, and so that it could be speedily compiled, be was taking steps to prepare the necessary machinery. The Government was satisfied that all immediate needs could best be met by a voluntary register.

It was an essential preliminary, however, that all who wished to serve the country should know how best their services could he utilised. It was therefore proposed to publish a. handbook containing particulars of all services for which volunteers were required, and indicating the types of men and women suitable for each, together with a list of key occupations in which individuals could best serve the State in time of emergency by remaining at the work for which they had been trained. No Special Legislation. The Ministry of Labour had already done much preliminary work in classifying occupations, but before settling the final details there would be a consultation with representatives of both sides in industry.

In addition to this publicity, and as a preparation for a co-ordinated recruiting campaign for all the various sorvicesMor which volunteers were required, which it was hoped to launch early in the new year, he was establishing a national service organisation, with local committees throughout the country, which #ould give full information and guidance to individuals in deciding where their duty lay.

.Sir John .made it clear that it was intended to. provide that persons volunteering for certain classes of civilian service, should be invited to undertake more definite obligations than had been expected hitherto.

The Minister said that the stated aim Was to enrol sufficient numbers of recruits to bring each of the various services up to the estimated requirements and to obtain for each service an adequate number of reserves. He also intimated that no special legislation would be required.

A Press Association message says that after Sir John Anderson had sat down, Mr George Lansbury (Labour) jumped up and exclaimed: “Do all these gigantic preparations mean that the Government view is that war is inevitable?”

Mr Chamberlain replied sharply “Certainly not.”—British Official bVircless.

ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION. FURTHER INFORMATION SOUGHT. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 2. There will be a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday on the Government’s proposals for a national voluntary service as outlined by Sir John Anderson. It is understood that while accepting the scheme in principle, the Opposition 'will call for further information on certain aspects of the proposals. Sir John Anderson announced that ho is preparing the necessaiy machinery so that it can be speedily be put into operation should need arise in a national emergency. —British Official Wireless.