CONTROL OF LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 10

CONTROL OF LABOUR

AMENDMENTS MADE TO REGULATIONS

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS TO BE CLASSIFIED •

(P.AJ WELLINGTON, .May 15. The Minister for National Service (the Hon. *R. Semple) in a long statement explaining amendments to the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940, which came into force yesterday, states that tijey deal with three important matters:—-first, control of labour for essential industries; second, treatment of conscientious objectors; third, provision of alternative service. Amendments affecting the control of labour will, although no directions have yet been made under these regulations, enable proper provision to be made, whenever required, to ensure that there is no undue drain of skilled labour from essential industry, and to enable control of the movement of available labour by requiring the employer or employee to seek workers or employment respectively through the placement officer. Under the second group of amending regulations conscientious objectors will be classified in three groups; those 1 whose appeals are allowed by appeal boards who may be required at the direction of the Minister for National Service to perform, under civil control, some alternative service; those whose appeals are dismissed conditionally on their service in the armed forces being restricted to non-combatant duties: and those whose appeals are dismissed unconditionally, and who will in due course be required to perform service in the armed forces. “Provision of alternative service for those whose appeals are granted is at present under Government consideration,” states the Minister. "In the case of those who are able to satisfy the boards that they are conscientiously opposed to combatant service, provision is now made requiring the military authorities to provide noncombatant duties. Where such a direction is made, the appellants now have a legal assurance that they will not subsequently be transferred to combatant duties, unless they expressly elect to do so. Cases for Rehearing "In view of the widening scope of the regulations, provision has been made m respect of conscientious appellants whose appeals have been heard and declined before these amendments, enabling them to apply for a rehearing if such an application were made within 14 days, namely, before May 28. No good purpose, however, will be served by seeking a rehearing in cases where non-combatant duties have already been recommended by appeal boards, as this recommendation will be carried out in terms of the latest amendments.

“These amendments bring the position substantially into line with "the English provisions, from which, however, they differ in the new principle of wider powers conferred upon the Government, enabling it to define the terms and conditions for the performance of alternative service.

“Under the amending regulations, recognition of the right to obtain exemption from military service on the ground of conscientious objection is contingent on a definite liability for alternative service, under terms of material sacrifice.

“A further important amendment deals with alternative service as distinct from contracts of employment. Thus, appeal boards, as well as manpower committees, are now empowered to require anplicants granted a postponement of service on the grounds of hardship or public interest, to render service in any section of the Emergency Reserve Corns. .Failure to comply will result in the dismissal of the appeal or the prosecution of the applicant” CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS BEFORE APPEALS *

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 15; The Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple), in a statement to-day regarding conscientious objectors, said that in future it wag intended to call these men in for medical examination in the ordinary course,, without waiting as in the past until after the hearing of their appeals. The Minister pointed out that where a man was found permanently medically unfit, grade four, the appeals are struck out, as the man is then transferred to the third division: and that where a man’s grading is C 3, the appeals are adjourned sine die, as no requirement is at present imposed on such men, in respect either of military service or of alternative service. It was considered desirable that this practice should be followed in respect of ’conscientious objectors. ■The Minister added that attendance for medical examination would in no way prejudice the hearing of appeals; but would save many men the necessity of preparing their cases, and of attendance before the boards. It was intended that this procedure would be adopted in respect of men called in the recent overseas ballot gazetted on May 7, and in all subsequent