HOME GUARD SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 4

HOME GUARD SERVICE

♦ PROVISION MADE FOR COMPULSION AMENDED REGULATIONS IN FORCE (.P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 15. The approval by the War Cabinet nI regulations providing for compulsory service in the Home Guard was announced by the Prirne Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) on Saturday afternoon. Amendments to the National Service Emergency Regulations embodying this decision were passed in the morning. The Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) is now empowered to direct classes of persons to apply for enrolment in the Home Guard, and the Director of National Service is authorised to call up for service in the Home Guard any reservist who is a member of any class covered by the Minister’s order. On the issue of a notice by the Director of National Service the reservist will be deemed to have become a member of the Home Guard, and the provisions of the regulations apply in regard to rights of appeal in the same manner as if he had been called up for territorial service. No direction has. yet been made under these provisions, and publicity will be given through the newspapers as soon as any direction is made arid the full procedure will then be outlined. A further amendment to the regulations confers authority’upon the Minister to direct any class or classes of persons to undertake such service considered necessary in the prosecution of the war effort. Previously a direction could only be made to an individual, but now the authority has been extended to cover classes of persons. “In view of the present war situation it will be appreciated that the prosecution of much work is a matter of grave urgency,” said Mr Fraser. “Where urgent works for defence or civil purposes are required this new provision will enable adequate labour to he quickly diverted for the purpose.”