THE TERRITORIAL FORCES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 338, 28 November 1917, Page 3

THE TERRITORIAL FORCES.

INFORMATION RESPECTING LEAVE. The Commanding Officer No. 7 group (Major T. H. Ringland) supplies the following information, which should be carefully noted by cadets and members of the Territorial Forces;— ABSENCE FROM PARADES AND DRILLS. During the continuance of the war the rules for the obtaining of exemption from personal service (vide para. 450. Regulations for the Military Forces of New Zealand) will be suspended and the following rules substituted to meet the abnormal conditions of the present time and to reduce the difficulty of obtaining such leave of absence to minimum. It is not necessary, during; the war for any trainee to have to apply to a Magistrate for exemption in order to get leave of absence from personal service on the grounds that undue hardship is caused by the requirements of such service will apply for such leave of absence as follows:—

(a) Territorial Force in town areas—By application to the adjutant of the unit concerned. (Through Company Commander.) (b) Cadet Force in town areas: — By application to the area or group Commander concerned.

In order to avoid unnecessary de-' lay power to grant such leave of absence will be given to the above officers and Sub/Area SergeantsMajor without reference to higher authority in all cases where interference with an essential industry is proved. In all cases where doubts exist as to the necessity for granting an application for leave of absence immediate reference will be made to the Group or District Commander concerned. All leave of absence granted by a Sub/Area SergeantMajor will be immediately reported for information to the Group Commander concerned.

The greatest care will he taken to ensure that no cadet or Territorial shall be permitted to attend 1 a voluntary camp unless he produces a certificate from his employer stating that his services can be’ spared. In cases where Cadets or Territorials are absent from parades or drills without leave of absence excuse will be accepted if received within 48 hours of such absence. In cases where no excuse is submitted or where the excuse is considered unsatisfactory the matter will be referred to the Group Commander concerned, who will decide upon what action shal ,be taken in the matter.

Exemption will usuall.v be given for specific drills and parades only. Total exemption from training will be glranted only in extreme cases. Leave of absence from parades or drills will be most sparingly given to all Territorials of 19 years of age. who will be subsequently required to serve with the Expeditionary Force.

Forms of application for leave of absence from Parades or drills, also form of Employer’s willingness for his employees to attend voluntary courses of instruction etc., may be obtained on application. ABSENCE FROM ANNUAL CAMPS 1917-18.

During the continuance of the war the rules for the obtaining of exemption from personal service (vide para. 450 Regulations for the Military Forces of New Zealand) will be suspended and the following substituted to meet the abnormal requirements of the present time. 1. As the obligatory training for the territorial soldier has been very considerably reduced during the continuance of the war, it is essential that total exemption from attendance at the annual camps shall be most sparingly granted and only given where definite proof of interference witji an essential industry is establishes.

The attention of all employers and Territorials will be drawn to'the fact that the annual and casual camps will be spread over a period of some months and that arrangements will be made for the Territorial soldier to attend his week’s camp at that time which best fits in with his civil employment. . 3. In cases where a Territorial is unavoidably absent from . the annual camp without leave he will be required to forward an explanation for such absence within 48 hours. In cases where no excuse fs submitted or where the excuse is considered unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to " the group commander concerned, who wifi decide on what action shall be taken id the matter. 4. Total exemption from attendance at the annual camps will be given in exceptional cases only where the Territorial is 19 years of age. In such cases approval must first be obtained from the Group Commander concerned. 5. A of application for leave of absence from attendance at the annual camp has been supplied to O/C Units and Groupe.

6. A territorial soldier engager! in an essential industry desirous of obtaining leave of absence from the annual camp will apply as follows : - (a). Territorial units in country areas : To the Squadron. Company or other Unit Commander, or Area Officer, or Sub-Area SergeantMajor. b). Territorial unit in to'-’-n areas: To the Adjutant- of the Unit concerned (through Company Commanders. )