RELEASE OF MEN FROM CAMP

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23715, 13 August 1942, Page 6

RELEASE OF MEN FROM CAMP

ARMY AUTHORITIES CRITICISED STATEMENT BY FARMER An allegation that an officer of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry had torn up a list containing the name of a soldier who had applied for release from camp for farm work, after the announcement by the Minister of Primary Production for' War Purposes, was made by Mr O. T. Evans at a meeting of the North Canterbury District Council of Primary Production yesterday. Mr Evans, who is chairman of the Hawarden-Waikari district committee of the council, asked that the question should be taken up with the Minister.

Mr Evans said he understood that arrangements had been made for men who were required to be released from camp for 28 days until their cases were considered by the Manpower Committee, An employee of his who had been in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry for 10 months had put his name on the list for release, but told him that an officer had torn the list up, saying that the employee was a key man. He had made inquiries from the Manpower Committee, and the employee’s name was not on the list of those for release.

“The Army ,is not doing what the Minister said was going to be done,” said Mr Evans. “If something is not done quickly the Minister is going to get the blame. The War Cabinet’s instructions are not being carried out by the Army.” The council decided to investigate the question and obtain the fullest information.

Mr C. M. Williams, M.P., said there was something in what Mr Evans had said, as he had heard of a similar instance in the same unit. One could quite understand the attitude of the officers of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, for their unit was largely composed of country lads, and they were likely to lose nearly all their best men. The very fact that they were keen officers might lead them to- do things which they should not do.