MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1940, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE

UNDER THE BALLOT

Several correspondents have written asking questions regarding the recent ballot for Territorial service and the subsequent procedure. The questions have been submitted to the authorities and answers are appended.

"Returned Soldier in Group C" asks if the ballot was taken of all three age groups: A, 19-20, liable for home service; B, 21-40, liable for overseas service; and C, 41-45, liable for home service. "The upward age limit for the Territorials does not at present reach 45, or even 40. Is it the intention of the authorities to keep within the present age limit of the Territorials, or is the age to be extended to 45, and the ballot to be taken indiscriminately from men of all ages in the First Division? Before volunteering ceased, I sent in an application, as a returned soldier, for the Wellington Battalion, Class 2, of the National Military Reserve. I received no reply. I understand that they had more than enough applications from returned men. Is a returned soldier called up in the ballot to be given any opportunity of serving in a unit in which he has had previous experience?"

The answer is that the ballot was taken over the whole age group (19 to 45) in the First Division of the National Reserve and all men selected in that ballot are liable for Territorial service within New Zealand. Every endeavour will be made to place men in jobs to which they are best suited by reason of previous military experience or civilian occupation.

"Worried" writes: "There are many men who were married after May 1 and who are to b* included in the ballot. Some of us had arranged our marriages many months before the war commenced and in addition had proceeded to furnish houses or flats before the Government announcement that men married after the date quoted were to be regarded as single. Will you please bring this matter before the Minister of Man-power and ascertain if due consideration will be given to cases such as these, or if any direction in this connection will be given to those appointed to hear appeals." The authorities state that May 1 was determined as the date after which the marriage of members of the First Division of the National Reserve would not be taken into account because at that time the Government's National Service plans were announced. Any man married on or after May 1 who desires to appeal on the grounds of personal hardship may do so and each case will be considered on its merits. A similar procedure was followed in the last war when compulsory service was introduced. The Military Service Act was passed on August 1, 1916, but men married after March 1, 1915, were regarded as unmarried. "First Division" writes: "At present the Territorial training scheme is for men to have approximately one month s training during which the majority live at their homes and are trained during ! the day only, and this is then followed by approximately two months' training in camp, the majority of men so trained returning to their civilian life at the end of three months. Is this scheme to be followed in training the men to be selected by this week's ballot or is it known how long the.se men will stayin the unit to which they are drafted? It seems extremely unsatisfactory for both employers and the men selected if they do not know whether they will return to civilian life at the end of three, six1; or twelve months, or whether they will be in the Territorials for continuous training for the duration, subject to going overseas. If the training is to last a few months only then I think that most employers would assist by keeping open positions, but if the time is indefinite then other arrangements will be inevitable. Similarly, it is extremely difficult for married men to wait until the last moment before making their plans which depend mainly on the period of service." The requirements under the present extended Territorial training scheme (it is stated in reply) have been clearly stated already in the Press. Men posted to Territorial units called up for three months' continuous service will be required to put in three months full time with their unit, after which they will return to their civilian occupations subject to the requirement that they must carry out subsequent Territorial training consisting of the equivalent in night parades of one day's training per month and a fortnight's annual camp. "Inquirer" asks whether the ballot Iwill affect the posting of Territorials who have been issued with uniforms land who will be going into camp on January 7, 1941. The answer is that the ballot will not affect the position of Territorials iwho have already been attested for service. They will not be included in ballots for home service, but will be liable for the three months' continuous training and subsequent Territorial training when their units are called up.