PARLIAMENT Military Training Plan: Bill Introduced

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 3

PARLIAMENT Military Training Plan: Bill Introduced

- WELLINGTON, Sept. 22 (P.A.).— Described by. the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) as probably? the most important bill to be introduced this session, the Military Training Bill of 72 clauses was introduced in the House of Representatives this evening,, read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. ■ 'The -Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said he proposed, to refer the bill to the committee because ,to a large extent it involved law and legal'principles. ' There would be two camps each year, said Mr Fraser. It would be foolish to take young men. away from farms in the height of the season. He- had thought it would- be possible to repeal the Defence Act, butthat could not. be done unless the. Army Act which, had been prepared was passed this session,, and time did not permit that. The Defence Act would, therefore, have to be left in-' tact. ' ' ■

The bill provides that every, male British; subject ordinarily resident in New Zealand who attains the age of 18 years on or after November 1,1949, will- be liable to. serve in the armedforces for the following terms of service comprising 14 weeks in camp for training, and thereafter (b). three years’ part-time service, during which he will be liable for a total of 60 days’ training, and thereafter (c) six years in the reserve; Persons Exempted The following persons are to be exempt from service:—persons employed by the Government of any part of the British Commonwealth other than New Zealand, Ministers of religion and members of religious orders, mental defectives, totally blind persons, and persons in receipt of invalidity benefits under the Social Security Act. Every person liable for training is to apply for registration within 14 days after attaining the age of 18 years or (if he is then out of New Zealand) within 14 days after his return. However, persons who become subject to registration before January 9, 1950, are to register within 14 days after that date. Applications for registration are to be made on prescribed forms and are to be delivered or posted to the nearest district office of the Department of Labour and Employment. Applicants will be registered in a military service register and will receive a certificate of registration. If any applicant notifies a preference for naval 'sor Air Force service that fact will be recorded in the register. On any change of address a registered person must return his certificate of registration for correction.

The bill provides for a medical examination and grading of registered persons and prescribes the constitution and functions of a medical committee. The Minister of Employment is required to have regard to its recommendations. Provision is made for the appointment of regional medical officers and for medical boards.

Calling-up. notices, for whole-time service are to give at least 14 days’ notice of the time for reporting. Persons who desire to be registered on attaining the age of 17 years and six months, and to be called up as if they had attained the age of 18 years may do so. ,' Application may be made for postponement of service on the ground of undue hardship. Such applications are. to be determined by military service postponement committees, subject to the power of the Director of Employment to grant postponement for not more than 12 months. A postponement committee may grant a postponement for not more than 12 months without a hearing. It may adjourn an application, or appoint a time and place for a formal hearing. After hearing an application a postponement committee may dismiss it, grant postponement for not more than 12 months, or adjourn the application. Conscientious Objectors The Bill enables any person who conscientiously objects to serving with the armed forces or to performing, combatant duties to apply for registration as a conscientous objector. Every person who applies within the 14 days allowed for registration will be registered provisionally in a register of conscientous objectors, and will receive a certificate of provisional registration. The Director of Employment may provisionally register a person in the register of conscientious objectors notwithstanding that he has refused or failed to make an application. The case of each person provisionally registered will be referred to a conscientious objection committee for determination. If the committee is not satisfied it will dismiss the case, but if it is satisfied xt will order that the applicant be registered in the register of conscientious objectors, either unconditionally or as a person liable to be called up for service but to be employed only in non-combatant duties. A conscientious objection committee

may make orders for. payments to the. Social Security Fund-, by- conscientious, objectors to ensure- that their financial. position is not better, than if they, had been called, up, for service and, training. • 7 No Liquor There is a prohibition on the supply of ■ intoxicating liquor to. trainees, in any training camp and also on. w,et canteens for any persons hi those camps. The Bill prohibits the bringing, of liquor into any camp where any defence forces are-stationed-, the-only-ex-ceptions being, for the supply to. per--sdns over.2l; years, of, age in authorised messes and wet canteens.. Every worker undergoing service or training is detemed to have. leave of absence without pay, and is accordingly entitled to resume, his. employment at the end' of' each! period of ■ service. At thfr end- of his- 14 weeks’- whole-time, service a worker may take seven days’ ■further leave if, he wishes. An employer-’is protected in. the case of temporary, seasonal, or casual workers. , „ The Bill prohibits- the. dismissal of workers before the "commencement of their, whole-time service or by reason of being liable, for. training 'during their part-time dj> during any period of service, or’ training, or. within 13 weeks after their whole-time service if the dismissal is by. reason, of-their liabilities for compulsory- military- service. Offences against these, provisions are liable to a fine not exceeding £lOO and such compensation as the Court may award, a. worker,, not exceeding 13 weeks’ wages. ■ • ' v Holiday Provision An employer is nob obliged to count the period of a worker’s whole-time service as time served, for the purpose of the worker’s annual holidays. of holiday pay. but time lost by reason of ! training during his part.-time service , will be counted as time served. An < employer is prohibited from forcing a worker to take his annual holiday dur- • ing any period of service or training. A worker is to be entitled to. payment for any day as a holiday during his service or training in any case where he would have been so entitled if his employment had ended at the commencement of his service or training. Contracts of apprenticeship are to be suspended during any period of service or training so that no wages will be payable for that period, but time lost by service or training is to be counted as time served for the purpose of computing apprenticeship and the rate ■ of wages of an apprentice. A worker is entitled to increments in his pay as if time lost by reason of his service or training was time, served in. his employment. The Bill revokes the Occupational Re-establishment Emergency Regulations, 1940, and the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations, 1940, and their amendments, subject to any existing rights and liabilities.