OBJECT OF NATIONAL SERVICE PLAN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 104, 26 January 1939, Page 11

OBJECT OF NATIONAL SERVICE PLAN

Defence Of Civilians And Essential Industries SCHEDULE OF RESERVED OCCUPATIONS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. , The object of the Government’s voluntary national service scheme is twofold. First, to fill vacancies in the various branches of military and civil defence; secondly, to safeguard essential industries and services in wartime. The second object, which involves the prevention of recruitment of persons who should be retained in wartime in peacetime occupations, is the reason for the issue of a schedule of reserved occupations, and the first object will be achieved by the distribution of a national service guide giving a simple description of the various services.

The schedule of reserved occupations covers between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 men, of whom about 3,000,000 are more than 45 years of age. Only about one in five of the male population between the ages of 18 and 25 is affected by the schedule. The scheme aims at a civilian defence army of 1,200,000 and a ■ reserve of 600,000.

Chamberlain’s Appeal.

Newspapers devote considerable space' to the national service campaign, and most of them have leading articles supporting Mr. Chamberlain’s appeal. “The Times” remarks that the address was by no means alarmist, but it did make clear once again that the best chance of avoiding war is to convince an aggressor that war would be a dangerous adventure. Commenting on the fact that the Government has rejected for the moment any idea of- securing ample organized power and protection through compulsion, “The Times” adds that it must not be thought that anything short of a practically universal response will suffice. “The nearer the country can get by voluntary methods to universal training and universal service,” says “The Times,” “the less likely are both war and compulsion.’ The “News Chronicle” says: “The voluntary system must not be allowed to fall. Every man and woman must examine his or her conscience and the opportunities of service.”