ANXIOUS TO ENROL

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 187, 7 August 1914, Page 6

ANXIOUS TO ENROL

CIVIL SERVICE RESTLESS. THE COMMISSIONER APPROACHED. REQUEST FOR LEAVE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTOHURCH, this day. The question of the eligibility of Civil Servants to join the expeditionary force has been keenly debated recently. As soon as the possibilities of a warlike conllict became more certain, they were as badly bitten by the war fever as anyone. A majority of the younger officers who were eligible were deterred from at once offering their services by fear that they would be debarred. Many of them, however, are said to have made up their minds that if an expeditionary force was to be dispatched to the. actual seen* of hostilities they would, if necessary, tender their resignations. To-day, however, it was learnt that some of them had been advised that leave would be granted to enable them to enlist. Immediately this became known a rush to enlist started in every department. In order that there might be no difficulty in the matter the local branch secretary wired to the general secretary at Wellington, requesting him to ask the Public Service Commissioner to advise if officers would be granted leave of absence to enable them to servo with the expeditionary force, and also if their superannuation and 6crvice interests would be protected. He had ailso circularised as many departments as possible, to ascertain the number of officers likely to be affected, in order that definite information might be available. It is expected that he will know by tomorrow morning what local officers are anxious to have their claims considered when the expeditionary force is being selected, and have signed the enrolment form required by the Defence Department. The action that has been taken has created intense interest in the service, and aill ranks are anxiously awaiting the Commissioner's advice.