MILITARY SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1942, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE

MR SEMPLE’S STATEMENT

CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. Regulations to convert all the manpower committees ino Armed Forces Appeal Courts, were now under consideration, and an announcement would be made within the next 24 hours, said the Minister of National Service (Mr Semple) this morning. The Minister said that appeals by men in the call-up on Wednesday, who would be liable for overseas service, would come before the Appeal Courts, which would also hear ah other appeals. Under a retrospective order, which would be made, bringing men already in the Territorials under the classification of eligibility for overseas service, the Territorials concerned would have the right ol appeal before the Appeal Courts. Men ordered to parade for Home Guard service were soldiers in thereat sense of the word, and were subject to the same for mof discipline as soldiers, said Mr Semple, when asked what steps could be taken with men who refused to obey orders to parade with the Horpe Guard. “If the men called to parade with the Home Guard persist in their refusal to render service, they can be treated as defaulters, and can be punished in whatever way the Army authorities deem advisable. In other words, a man who refuses service with the Home Guard can be subjected to the same treatment as a deserter in the Army, as he is technically a deserter, and can be treated accordingly.”