AGE LIMIT RAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 3

AGE LIMIT RAISED.

IS NOW FORTY.

REASON FOR DECISION.

MINISTER EXPLAINS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association ) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Government was now prepared to advance the age for enlistment to 40, announced the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, at the National Recruiting Council meeting in Wellington to-day. Mr. Jonee said men up to this age would be accepted in accordance with their position and responsibilities, single men first, married men without children, and so on.

The age limit in the Great War was 19-£5. but in the present conflict a start was made at 21-35, which was the territorial limit. Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of technical or other ability who were key men had been taken above the age of 3.>.

It had been suggested that the age should be extended to 40, but the Government was not prepared to go this far.

The Minister said it had been decided that if the advancing of the age limit was left too long there might be too many of the older age group in later units, and it was felt that to advance the age now to 40 would allow of an even distribution of older men among the young.

Position of Married Men. A small unit was being formed of older men now engaged on coastal defence, and these would be replaced * with men under 21.

No one con id say an endeavour was being made to build up army strength bv extending the age limit, because the figures he had given of the recruiting position disproved this, said Mr. Jones. Mr. T. Jordan asked what was the official attitude toward the enlistment of married men. Mr. Jones .replied that men with up to two of a family were being taken, but not beyond this unless the recruits were officers, non-commissioned officers or key men. Mr. Jordan: Irrespective of their financial position? Mr. Jones: Yes. I would say that. The Minister then outlined payments made to soldiers with dependents, and added that there was the Financial Assistance Board, which gave help in respect of insurance policy payments, rent and interest to a limit of £156 a year.