TERRITORIAL UNITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 81, 2 October 1940, Page 11

TERRITORIAL UNITS

MEDICAL FITNESS

EXAMINATION SOON

Because of the importance of making up deficiencies in Territorial units as soon as possible medical examination of the men drawn in the first ballot has been expedited and will commence next Monday. A statement to this effect was made by the Army-authorities in response to an inquiry today. Men passed fit will be posted to units as early as possible after examination. A start was made today in sending out notices to the first groups of men required to appear before medical

boards. Provision has been made for men who, through sickness or other physical disability, are unable to attend at the appointed places for medical examination. They will be examined by a visiting board in their own homes. Men so situated should, as soon as they receive notification, communicate with the Area Officer who

will arrange for a board to visit them. I Commencing on Monday, men will jbe paid for time spent undergoing medical examination. This is in conIformity with, the'practice introduced in the last war as' soon as compulsory j service was. introduced. " • AH appeals against being called up ; for service must be communicated, within ten days of publication of the names in the Gazette, to the secretary of the Manpower Committee in the respective areas. This provision applies only to Territorial service, and a different pro- -.••.. Great interest has been aroused today by the issue of a special Gazette containing the names of i men drawn in the ballot last week for Territorial service. About 1900 ! men were selected in the No. 5 i area (Wellington and Hutt) and their names are printed on page 6. cedure will be followed when the first ballots for overseas service take place. j IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS. 1 Although 16,000 names have been drawn in the first ballot only 6070 are required immediately for Territorial units, but a large number was drawn to make allowance for medical unfitness and appeals, and to compensate for wastage through enlistment of j Territorials in the Expeditionary Force. ' A number who volunteered before July 22 are still waiting to be called [up.

Some serving Territorials still appear to he under the impression that the fact they have completed their three months' continuous training under the home defence scheme absolves them from liability to be called up in ballots for overseas service, but that is not the case.

All men in the First Division of the National Register will be included in the first ballots for overseas service regardless of whether they are already serving in a Territorial unit or whether they have been selected by the ballot just held, which was for Territorial service in New Zealand only. This, of course, does not apply to men who enlisted for overseas under the voluntary system up to July 22 ,and. who have been passed medically fit and attested for service overseas.