E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 138, 7 March 1942, Page 9

E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Objectors To Service In Wellington MANY WOMEN VOLUNTEER Though numbers of men in Christchurch who sent in their enrolment forms for the Emergency Reserve Corps without signing the declaration on the form are being allotted duties in the E.P.S., no such action has yet been taken in Wellington, it is reported. Full authority for dealing with these recalcitrants effectively is awaited, and will be applied. Forty objectors on various grounds have so far been notified by the E.P.S. headquarters in Wellington. Some are straight-out conscientious objectors, some are opposed to certain aspects of the service on religious grounds, one has stated definitely that he has “no intention of serving,” and another marked the enrolment form "too busy.’ It is stated that before long these people who object to disciplined service in an emergency will be very firmly dealt with. The number of women voluntarily enrolling in the E.P.S. is increasing rapidly mainly by offers of services as fire-watchers. Once they receive formal notification of the acceptance of their enrolment, they are covered for compensation against any injury suffered in the course of their duties. Though no count of female E.P.S. personnel has been taken since a total of 1618 was reached on December 10 last, it is estimated, because of the greater impetus being given this form of service, that the number has more than doubled since then. Despite the fact that the period for compulsory enrolment of males ceased some time ago, some' enrolments are still coming in, but all those received after the expiry of the stipulated period are being kept separately. A heavy mail is received daily at the E.P.S. administration headquarters, which are being moved from the Town Hall today to new office accommodation provided in the basement of the municipal library.