ESSENTIAL WORK

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1942, Page 4

ESSENTIAL WORK

REGISTRATION PLANS I Engineers Up to 70 OTHERS IN AGE CLASSES. P.A. WELLINGTON, March 18. The special registration or engineering and building workers __ yrespective of age, in addition io Uie general registration of men and women in age classes, was announced by the Minister of National Service (Mr. Semple)., The object of these registrations, said the Minister, was to place every worker who had the type of skill required to meet every present emergency at the, disposal of the nation’s war machine. For this purpose every man from eighteen to seventy years who had been at any time during the last iilteen years engaged for an aggregate period of twelve months or more in any engineering, building, or constructional occupation, must register immediately for direction, as required, into work of national importance. A higher age limit had been set after due consideration because there were varoius types of light work, such as making camouflage frames, and supervisory work, which would come within the competence of men of sixty-flve and over.

In addition to these special registrations, men of forty-six and under fifty-one, and women who attained the age of twenty, and were under twenty-two years, were required to register for selection with a view to their direction into whatever work they were most suited to perform. The method of enrolment was to complete a special form at the nearest Post Office, and forward it to the nearest district Man Power Officer. Centres at which District Man Power Officers were located were printed on the enrolment forms. Acknowledgement would be given in all cases where a man came within two classes, that is, where he is an engineering or building worker who is also included in the age group, 46 to 50. He should register under the special occupations’ registration. A complete list of types of workers in the two industries concerned is contained in the Minister’s statement, and it includes practically all tradesmen and labourers engaged in these industries

The list of • exemptions includes men serving in the Forces, in the Merchant Marine, on invalid pensions or war pensions, and inmates of institutes and prisons. Civilians employed in the Army Department, Navy, or Air Force, Policemen, full time firemen, working farmers, miners (including mineral and oil), ra’lway employees, gas or electricity employees, doctors, dentists, opticians, chemists, hospital employees, judges and magistrates, members of the General Assembly, ana officiating Ministers, are also exempted from the age class registration.