PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1941, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE

HOME GUARD & E.P.S.

ALLOCATION OF DUTIES

"So far from discouraging the members of the Public Service from joining the Home Guard or the E.P.S., they are encouraged to do so," stated the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when replying to an urgent question from Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo). It might happen, however, in the event of threatened invasion or any serious national crisis, that certain key men, such as railwaymen and telegraphists, would be required more urgently at their normal duties.

Mr. Broadfoot's question asked whether the Prime Minister was aware that in Government departments a policy was being pursued by departmental heads which was requiring fit men already enrolled in the Home Guard to resign and join the non-com-batant E.P.S. services, and others not enrolled to refrain from joining the Home Guard; and, if so, whether he would see that "this further instance of discouragement of the Home Guard by official quarters" was. thoroughly investigated and rectified. Mr. Fraser said that he had obtained replies from the Public Service Commissioner's Office, the Post and Telegraph Department, and the Railway Department on the procedure adopted. He was advised, and he was sure that it was in conformity with the War Cabinet's attitude, that public servants were being asked to join the Home, Guard or E.P.S., but they had to keep themselves in readiness to transfer if their services "Were more urgently required somewhere else. (