NOT TO BE GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1941, Page 11

NOT TO BE GENERAL

MINISTER'S PLANS

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE FOR

BALLOTED MEN

Commenting on Mr. Perry's remarks, the Minister of National Service (Mr. Semplei) stated today that there was no intention at this stage, of applying generally thecompulsory provisions of the regulations for the recruitment of the Home Guard and other organisations. However, steps were being taken to ensure that men balloted for service with the armed forces would perform some other form of national service if, on examination of their individual cases, it was reasonable and practicable to do so. The Minister explained that while power had been taken by regulation to direct persons to perform service in the Home Guard and other voluntary organisations, there was no intention on the part of the Government at present to use that power for the purpose of inaugurating compulsory service in those organisations. ■ So far as the Home Guard was concerned he had on a number of occasions expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the people of the DQminion were responding, and the fact that enrolments had now reached the Government's objective of 100,000 made it unnecessary, at the present time anyhow, to bring in the compulsory system for that movement. SURVEY OF E.P.S. With regard to the Emergency Fire Service and the various sections of the E.P.S., the National Service Department was carrying out a complete survey of membership, and, from a study of the returns already in, it was clear that while an enormous amount of excellent work had been achieved and thousands of people had come forward, there were vacancies for hundreds still in many important branches. "Widespread appeals are being made by the Government and E.P.S. organisations wherever personnel is required," continued the Minister, "and in addition to that, a scheme has been formulated whereby appeal boards and man-power committees have been requested to give consideration to all forms of alternative service in respect of men who have been called in the ballot, but for various reasons cannot! be called upon for service in the New i Zealand Expeditionary Force or the Territorials. ALTERNATIVE. SERVICE. "If the appeal boards or man-power committees are satisfied when the whole circumstances of appellants are j before them that some form of alternative service in the Territorials, E.F.S., E.P.S., or Home Guard can reasonably be performed, then the authorities may make a direction for the appellant to enrol. If he fails to do so, the matter will be placed before the Minister, who may exercise his power to direct the appellant to perform the service decided upon. "It will be seen, .therefore," added Mr. Semple, "that while there is no intention at this stage of applying generally the compulsory provision of the regulations, steps are being taken to j ensure that men who are called up by ballot for service in the armed forces will be required to perform some other form of national service if, on examination of their individual cases t it is reasonable and practicable to do so."