RAILWAYMEN CONSCRIPTED

Evening Star, Issue 23755, 10 December 1940, Page 4

RAILWAYMEN CONSCRIPTED

MANY ADJOURNMENTS OF SERVICE SOUGHT HEAVY SEASONAL OPERATIONS [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. Explaining why it was considered desirable to seek adjournments sine die in cases of railway employees conscripted for Territorial training, the National Service Department has advised the Christchurch Man Power Committee that 545 appeals have been lodged for railwaymeh. called in the second ballot. At the beginning of November, 1940, there were 2,361 railway employees serving with the armed forces overseas or in training for overseas service. In addition 584 men were undergoing Territorial training. In the first ballot 638 men were conscripted, and appeals were instituted in respect if 139 ot these. In the second ballot 1,354 were <«lled_and the director has appealed for 545, a very large proportion of whom are the train operating crew personnel. The greater percentage of men appealed for in the second ballot was (]ue in part to heavy seasonal operations. “ It has to be pointed out that in respect of the locomotive running and traffic branches, very few men would be available for mobilisation with the Territorial forces in the event of an extreme emergency,” states the National Service Department. “In the circumstances it has been considered desirable to seek adjournments sine die in all cases. The matter of availability for Territorial training, however, will be the subject of regular and close review.”