MARRIED MEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 7

MARRIED MEN

TERRITORIAL SERVICE EFFECT OF BALLOTS ARMY POLICY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. To deplete the territorial force at this stage by withdrawing all married men or those who had no children or only one child would be most inexpedient, as well as unnecessary, stated the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-day in further reference to married territorials who may be balloted for overseas service next year. The Minister was referring to reported complaints by some married members of the territorial force that although they would be called up by ballot for overseas service during 1942 they would be required to do two months’ collective training with units early that year. The rule adopted for men drawn in the overseas ballot was (a) if a man was at the time of the ballot performing his training with a territorial unit in camp he was required to complete the prescribed course of training: (b) if a man at the time of the ballot was not in camp he was not required to enter camp. In substance this practice had been in force from the commencement of the ballot system, and it was incorrect to state that a different policy had been adopted in the case of the single men. Stability Necessary

The Minister stressed the importance at present of retaining the stability of the Territorial Force. He added that all married men without children would not be drawn in the first ballot of married men and those not drawn in the first ballot would not be called up for some time until the man was drawn in an overseas ballot. It was not known whether an appeal would be lodged by him or on his behalf. If, therefore, married men were now to be discharged from the Territorials and if it was found later that they were ineligible for the expeditionary force unnecessary confusion would result. If a married man who was in camp required time to make arrangements about his affairs when called in an overseas ballot after the conclusion of Territorial training and before going to the expeditionary force, it was open to him to lodge an appeal. The Minister concluded that it was most unlikely that any man would be required to transfer immediately from Territorial camp to an expeditionary force camp.