NEXT CALL-UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20958, 4 December 1942, Page 4

NEXT CALL-UP

REQUEST FOR DELAY REFERENCE IN HOUSE DEFENCE ISSUES RAISED (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 3 Questions relating to leave, pensions, and other matters affecting the armed forces were asked in the House of Representatives to-day before members adjourned to the social hall to hear the chiefs of the general staff and officers of the National Service Department. “I shall make an inquiry to see whether that can be done,” was the reply given by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to Mr. F. W. Doidge (.Nat, Tauranga), who asked whether, in view of the Christmas holidays, the calling up of men from 41 to 45 years, timed for December 22. would be delayed until early in January. Replying to Mr. E. P. Meachen (Lab. Marlborough), who asked for uniformity of leave privileges as between the army and air force, the Minister of Defence, after giving details of the normal leave at present granted to air force personnel, said that the whole question of leave and transport was now under the consideration of the Government.

When Mr. J. A. Lee, on behalf of the member for Napier, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, asked the Minister of Defence whether he would give instructions for the prompt payment; of allowances to wives and dependants of soldiers, Mr. Jones admitted that there were often grounds for complaint, due to delay, and in order to improve further the standard of efficiency he had recently appointed a qualified army pay inspector and assistants. “I have issued specific instructions,” added Mr. Jones, “that this inspection staff must pay particular attention to the matter raised by the hon member.”