ARMY REPLACEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 8

ARMY REPLACEMENTS

CATEGORY A MEN

EX-SERVICEMEN'S PAG

HOW MANY CALLED UP?

UNFAIRNESS OF DELAY J.C.L. Among Kiwis who have returned from trie Middle East, either sick or wounded or after three or more years' service, are many who are not happy about the way in which the New Zealand authorities are dealing with the question of mobilising men from civilian life so that the replacement scheme decided on bv the War Cabinet can proceed without" interruption. It is safe to say that most of the men are deeply concerned lest their former comrades in arms still overseas, and still in forward units, may have to stay much longer simply because sufficient replacements are not being called up on this side. The replacement scheme, when announced by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was received with satisfaction everywhere, particularly by ex-service-men's organisations which had been advocating a similar plan for some time previously. It was generally agreed throughout the country that the men who had been away the longest should be the first to be brought home for release to civilian life. This, it was contended, was the only fair way, for these men had seen the heat of battle when the tide was flowing in the enemy favour, and it was they who had to bear the brunt. What, then, of men to replace the veterans? It has long been thought that men who have seen little or no service should take the places of those remaining in the three echelons and the early reinforcements, who have been away from the Dominion for three or more years. There can be no doubt that this method of replacement is the only just one, for it provides equality of sacrifice. There are in industry, it is believed, 40,000 men who have been retained because of the ■fact that they were classed. as essential to the war effort, yet from this number a mere handful has been mobilised for overseas this year. Thousands Required Thousands of men will be required in the near future to replace the veterans in the Middle East so that they can return to their homeland and take their places in the community. It is conceded that the operation of the scheme is contingent on shippihg being available, but having regard to the trend of .events, in the war, no-great difficulty should be experienced. The first consideration needs to be given to the question of making manpower available. In this connection the National Service Department has the say after the Armed Forces Appeal Board has dealt with any applications for postponement of service. It has been stated from time to time that a comb-out is being made of available men held on appeal, but despite these official assurances comparatively few have been made available for Army service overseas. It ■ is learned from authoritative sources that less than 100 men between the ages of 21 and 36 with up to two children have been mobilised in the Northern Military District this

year for training for overseas service. The figure for Auckland, a city of over 250,000 population, is more amazing—not more than about 30 men having been mobilised in 1945. At this rate the Kiwis may be waiting for a considerable time before a sufficient number is provided from reinforcements as replacements. It is true that lads attaining their twentieth birthday are called on for full-time service, but thev are a small group, and cannot be sent out of the country at present without the consent of both parents. Third Division Troops Where, then, it may be asked, are the reinforcements for the Middle East being obtained? The large majority of men are being drawn from the remaining elements of the Third Division, and many of these have seen two and nearly three years' service in the Pacific. Since their service overseas is also taken into account from the replacement point of view, many will be available for return after short service, should they be sent to the Middle East. Present indications are that the remnants of the Third Division will be supplying reinforcements for some time to come, even though a great many are married men with two children, while single men and married men without children remain in essential and so-called essential industries or key positions. Many of these men retained did not even see service in the Dominion when invasion was threatened in 1942. Allegations of dodging by men on farms have been made recently even by farmers themselves. Examples were the comments of prominent farmers who are members of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production. One member, an officer of high rank in the last war who held an important post, said that half of the single men held back on farms were "pure dodgers." Another, a returned soldier from World War 1., and a prominent member of the R.S.A. in the Auckland province, described some of the cases where eligible men were retained on farms as being "nothing else but a racket." If remarks of this nature could be applied to men on farms, it is not impossible that they could in a measure be extended to some in industry. In official circles it is considered that many of the Category A men (those between the ages of 21 and 36 with up to two children) who were released from the Third Division on leave without pay to take up farm and other essential work will be recalled for service with the Middle East force. The National Service Department may remobilise them because they are more readily available. If this is the case, it would seem to indicate that far too much reliance is being placed on the Third Division men while others in civilian life escape scot free. Some are inclined to blame the Army for their remobilisation, but the Army disclaims that it is responsible. Men released to farms are to stay there till the end of the present season, after which their cases will be reviewed. Few non-soldiers are likely to be called from the farming community. It has been stated by the chairman of one appeal board that the replacement scheme now takes priority over all other manpower requirements and that the boards have been told that they must produce all the men required. The question now appears to be whether this will be done promptly, so that the men overseas will not have to wait indefinitely. The R.S.A. and'the 2nd N.Z.E.F. should satisfy themselves, and inform the public on this point.