BEING RETAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 59, 7 September 1945, Page 8

BEING RETAINED

SOME SINGLE MEN

AID TO DEMOBILISATION

A number of young single men of the 16th Reinforcements were being retained in the Army in the meantime to replace long-service personnel, married men with children, and other priority groups, said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in the House of Representatives today, when answering an urgent question asked by Mr. M. H. Oram (National, Manawatu).

Mr. Oram asked if the Government would take steps to release from manpower control lads of 18 to 21 in the Services so that they might be returned to their civilian occupations. He quoted a case where, he said, a Jad in that age group, while home on special leave, received advice that the Army was finished with him and his kit, etc., was being forwarded to his area headquarters. After confirmation he resumed his civilian occupation. He then received a further, telegram instructing him to report to his area office for return to Trentham under man-power direction. He was then directed to Base Records.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Prime Minister said that youthsunder 20 years and six months took precedence for release next after those with over four years' service and married men with children. A number of those youths had already been released and others were being granted their release as soon as possible. Instructions had already been issued that such youths upon release would not be subject to man-power direction, and they would be free to return to their normal occupations. There had not been time to investigate the particular case, but there appeared to be some confusion about it." It seemed that the youth was a member of the 16th Reinforcements and would have attained his twenty-first birthday. Assuming that that was the case, he would not have been given any indication that his release was being granted. He understood some of the men from the 16th Reinforcements were being employed in Base Records to assist in the very heavy pressure of work in connection with'the demobilisation of the forces. He thought the House would agree that one of the most essential occupations at the moment was at Base Records so that service personnel could be demobilised as rapidly as possible. If Mr. Oram gave particulars the case would be further looked into.