DEMOBILISATION

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 6

DEMOBILISATION

ARMED FORGES IN IW ZEALAND PRIORITY FOR ESSENTIAL WORK RELEASES TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 18. The Prime Minister announced • to-day > that the procedure to be adopted in the release of personnel from* the armed forces serving in New Zealand had been decided upon. This would - provide for priority to be given to the release of persons whose services were urgently required in essential em- " ployment, and particularly for farming and food production, timber and coal production, to be followed by releases on the. basis of length of service, marital status, and age.

Mr Fraser said that, in view of the cessation of hostilities, it would be possible immediately to begin demobilisation of the armed forces in New Zealand!. Already in the case of the Army this had proceeded, some distance. There were, however,, certain essential services which must be maintained in New Zealand for some time to come. For example, staffs must ( be provided to ensure that demobilisation was, done efficiently, to afford the necessary services for personnel serving overseas, to maintain and protect equipment, and td guard the prisoner-of-war camp. Demobilisation would be effected with all possible despatch. The first to > be released were persons whose services were urgently required in one of the following essential groups:—Fanning, dairy factories, shearers, musterers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, sawmill workers, and coal miners.

Releases will at the same time proceed in the following order of priority:— (1) Those with four years' service. . (2) Married men with children. (3) Youths under 20 years and six months. (4) Persons, over 35.

The Prime Minister also stated that the Government was making every effort to secure shipping for the- early return of men in the TJnitedl. Kingdom and the Middle East. - Application for the release of persons in the industrial categories mentioned should be made, in the first instance, to the district manpower officers. Subject to the needs of the services, those would be released first. While in the meantime releases^, on industrial grounds would be restricted to these industrial"groups, applications on compassionate grounds, or for release of keyworkers in other essential industries, might be lodged with the man-power officers. The applications should not be made direct to' the services or the appeal boards, as all such, releases would be handled by the mah-power officers. All details of the serviceman's number, rank, name, and unit, and the precise nature of the employment for which he was required, should be supplied. Others whose services are no longer required will be released in addition to those mentioned. Commenting on* the decision to give priority to persons in the occupational groups referred to, Mr Fraser said this had l)een done only after .giving the matter very serious thought. There Was already an urgent demand for farm labour, and for labour to man the dairy factories. These- ; industries had suffered a fairly considerable withdrawal of men for recent "reinforcement drafts, and in view of the emphasis that must bo placed on food production, it was essential that priority be given to the release of men for this work. Other occupational groups had been kept down to absolute minimum, and covered only those where there was really urgent need for additional skilled workers.

Mr Fraser said that while this statement covered the general (principles Agreed Upon, there were certain qualifications. As the Navy had already in operation a points system based on length of service, etc., it was proposed that this continue, but releases on ocr cupational grounds would also be made as far as possible. 16th REINFORCEMENT TO BE DEMOBBED.

The Army authorities would make arrangements for the immediate demobilisation of the Sixteenth Reinforcement. Generally, those living near Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch would, be reoalled from, leave to their mobilisation camps for medical examination, the handing in of equipment; and the finalising of pay accounts; and the. others would be dealt with by the area officers. De•tailed instructions would be- issued to all men. From the Sixteenth Reinforcement, a small number, of "single men not employed in important industries and who had little service, would be retained to enable the earlier release of long-service personnel, and those in other priority categories. Women serving in the forces would be released as soon as possible, with priprity in length otf service and on industrial tain a limited number of. women for some time, Mr Fraser said. It would be appreciated that all the men in the priority groups could flot be released immediately, as it was necessary to'retain key personnel to.deal with demobilisation and other matters.

Mr Eraser added that the Government was doing its utmost to arrange the .necessary shipping for the earliest possible return of the men from the United Kingdom and the Middle East.