REPLACEMENTS FOR THE DIVISION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 4

REPLACEMENTS FOR THE DIVISION

other announcement of the Government has given greater * * satisfaction than that concerning the replacement of long-service men in the Second Division. It was the announcement of a policy which was feft to be right—as an act of justice to the men, and to their next-of-kin, and as being in accord with the principle of equality of sacrifice. The obvious source from which men can be drawn for replacements— indeed, the only important remaining source—is the large group of Category A, and the Prime Minister has now announced that the circumstances of all these men are to be reviewed, and that everyone "who can possibly be spared from industry must be mobilised without delay." That this will cause a considerable disturbance in industry is inevitable—for the men concerned have been held on appeal precisely because of their usefulness—but this is the price that the community must pay to have the long-service soldiers back. Nevertheless Mr. Fraser's statement would have been stronger if he had included in it a reference to military prospects, in so far as they can be foreseen. The news every day suggests that before the men now to be mobilised reach the Division as trained soldiers the war in Europe will be over. The use to which the Division may be put after the European war is a question upon which the people are entitled to be informed, and any. decision made should have Parliament's sanction.