ISLANDS OUTPOSTS

Evening Star, Issue 24409, 22 January 1943, Page 5

ISLANDS OUTPOSTS

GRADE 11. MEN FOR GARRISON DUTY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 21. The Minister of Supply and Munitions (Mr Sullivan), who is in Christchurch at present, said to-day that he had referred to the Minister of Defence (Ml Jones) certain military questions that had been put to him by the Christchurch ' Press.' Mr Sullivan said that Mr Jones had advised that the War Cabinet had approved of grade 11. men being despatched to certain Pacific islands for garrison duty. Mr Jones stated that up to the present only soldiers who were in grade I. and between the ages of 21 and 41 years had been sent beyond New Zealand for service in the present war, but it was considered that grade 11. men could quite well be utilised for garrison duty in particular islands; Such men would, therefore, be sent to undertake these duties. The climate was healthy, and the islands were practically free from any virulent tropical diseases. Particular care would be taken that the soldiers selected; for this service were, physically suitable. This scheme. Mr Jones said,_ would relieve the units now on these islands. Theso were grade I. men, who would become available to proceed to more important duties elsewhere, and this scheme would help to put fully into practice the general policy of conserving grade I. men for duty which could not be carried out by personnel of lower medical grading. It would also'enable well-trained grade 11. men to take up important duty and relieve them from the boredom of continuous service in New Zealand, on which some of them had been employed since the outbreak of the war. It was anticipated, therefore, that the men selected would welcome the opportunity of serving on islands which were regarded as important outposts in the scheme for the defence of New Zealand. Mr Jones said that normally the grade 11. soldiers who would be despatched would be between the ages of 21 and 41 years (inclusive), but men in tho same medical category who had passed their twentieth birthday would be given an opportunity to volunteer on submitting the written consent of both parents or of their guardian. In addition, soldiers who had passed their forty-first birthday and whose medical "grading was either grade I. or grade 11. could also voluuteer.