TROOPS IN CAMP

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1940, Page 5

TROOPS IN CAMP

DISPERSAL ON DECEMBER 28. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] •ii.'.H. L.rjt -3 WELLINGTON, December 3. . All troops now in camp ~will, dis-? perse on December. 28, according to, a statement made by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), .in..reply .to a. point raised by a correspondent .in. a letter to the editor of .a. Wellington paper. This, the Minister points . put, will allow the men to reach their homes for the usual family reunions that take place during the Christmas and .New Year seasons-.. . . . i The Minister pointed out that units of the Territorial Force, now under training in camp, were called up for three months, from October 1, and therefore should remain in camp until December 31. If they were released from the camps before Christmas, the training period would be foreshortened, and this would adversely affect the progressive training programme, which culminates in brigade training. It. has- now been decided that all troops will disperse from the camps on December 28. .- The. Minister also announced that arrangements had been made which, it was expected, would enable the medical examination of the majority of men receiving invalids’ benefits or war disablement -pensions, who were called up in the ballot, to be dispensed with. A special Medical Board would examine the files of such men, and, except in special cases, their fitness for military service would be determined without their being examined. Pensioners* who have not already been examined, should advice the Army, if called up for service.