ESSENTIAL OCCUPATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 12

ESSENTIAL OCCUPATIONS

AUSTRALIAN LIST PUBLISHHED. SYDNEY, October 2. A'list of reserved occupations for the purposes of recruiting for the military forces of Australia has been issued. The last, which is similar to that issued in Great Britain, lays down in a general way the principles that will be followed in deciding what exemption from military services are desirable in the interests of maintaining industrial stability. The object of the restrictions is to ensure that, while the requirements of the combatant forces are met, those men whose services in other occupations are essential to national requirements shall not be permitted to enlist in the fighting services. Worked out as scientifically as possible. the list is merely provisional, and does not purport to be a hard and fact rule which cannot be adjusted to changing circumstances. The publication of the schedule does not mean that any person covered by its contents cannot offer himself for enlistment, nor does it mean that anyone already in jhe military forces who might be regarded as coming within any of the groups will be culled from the army. In effect, it is merely regarded as a broad guide to high officials in determining the allocation of man-power. “District and base headquarters have been informed through the Military Board that the restrictions should be applied with reasonable consideration for the requirements of the army and of industry respectively,” said the Minister of Defence. Mr. G. A. Street. “The military authorities have been advised that this end can be obtained only by members of the army recruiting organisation and man-power officials maintaining the closest co-opera-tion and employing with tact and commonsense the discretion and trust which must necessarily be reposed in them by the Government.” ’