VOLUNTEERS AND CONSCRIPTS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23413, 21 August 1941, Page 3

VOLUNTEERS AND CONSCRIPTS

“NO DISTINCTIONS MADE”

MINISTER’S REPLY TO DEFENCE QUESTIONS

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, August 20. “The policy of compulsion for military service adopted by the Government has the support of the people of this country, and the has made it clear that no distinction of any kind is or will be made between the volunteer and the man who has been called up for service,” the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash) said to-day in the House, when replying to a question by Mr F. L. Frost (Government, New Plymouth). “This is well understood by everyone, and in practice is strictly and fully observed.” Mr Nash also said it was not considered necessary for this Government to endeavour to restrain other governments in the British Empire from praising systems adopted in those countries. He was not aware that recent statements by Captain Margesson and Mr Malcolm Mac Donald,, lauding Canadian soldiers as “every man a volunteer,” had caused resentment, and he was satisfied that they were not in any way intended as criticism of the compulsory system in force in Great Britain and New Zealand. Explaining the regulations under which appeal boards dealt with appeals on the grounds of conscientious objection, the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) said they provided that the appellant must satisfy the board as to the genuineness of his belief. The suggestion by Mr J. A. Roy (Opposition, Clutha) to set up local committees to furnish confidential information to the boards was considered to be neither practicable nor desirable. The decision of the board must be arrived at on the evidence adduced at the hearing.

Home Guard Accidents

“It is considered that while a member of the Home Guard is on the way to or from a parade, and is under no form of control, he is not on service, and any injury sustained during this period is not pensionable,” was the reply given by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to another question. A reply that the whole question of extending the provisions of the Occupational Re-establishment Emergency Regulations, 1940, to persons employed In essential war work other than as members of His Majesty's forces was at present receiving the consideration of the Government, was given bv the Minister for Labour (the Hon, P! C. Webb). Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force would be guaranteed re-employment or found other suitable employment after the war. The different rates of pay for officers of equivalent rank in the New Zealand temporary staff and in the general duties branch of the Air Force was due in the main to . the different conditions pertaining to each service, the Minister for Defence replied to Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo). Every endeavour, he said, had been made to bring about uniformity as far as possible. The Government’s decision that a scheme whereby yachtsmen could undergo three months’ naval training, in lieu of territorial service, could not be adopted at present, was announced by Mr Jdnes, replying to Mr W. P. Endean (Opposition, Remuera). If such a course were instituted, it could only be at the, expense of ratings for service in overseas ships, the Minister said, and the Government had been, asked by the British Government to recruit and train larger numbers than hitherto.

Territorial Force

“Action has been taken which, it is expected, will bring the Territorial Force to its full establishment within a short time,” said Mr Jones, replying to Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic La.bour, Grey Lynn). He explained that •the deficiency was caused by the outflow of men from the Territorial Force ;to the Expeditionary Force. The Defence Emergency Regulations, which were approved on July 30 last, made it an offence for any member of the Territorial Force, without lawful excuse, to, fail to render the personal service required of him. The regulations were now being issued, and would come into operation immediately. Men who failed to carry out the prescribed training would be liable for prosecution in the Magistrate’s Court. “The requirements of soldiers suffering from neurasthenia are under immediate examination, and every possible facility will be provided for the promotion of the health of returned soldiers,” Mr Nash said, in reply to Mr Lee’s suggestion that a special home'or homes should be established. “It has been decided that as a general rule a man who makes default in reporting for medical examination or dispatch for camp, or in any other respect, will be prosecuted in the civil courts for an offence against the National Service Emergency Regulations,” said Mr Nash, when replying to a question on an incident where two men had been collected on (release from the Wellington prison, and removed to Trentham Camp. “If he is convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment,” the Minister said, “a military escort is detailed to attend at the prison on the termination of his sentence to conduct him to camp. 'lt should be made clear that he is not placed under arrest unless ne refuses to obey orders given to him. On arrival at camp he is dealt with in the same way as any other soldier who enters camp, but if he refuses to obey commands, he is prosecuted by court-martial under military law.”