CONSCRIPTION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1939, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION

COMING IN BRITAIN

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S STATEMENT

(United Press Association--By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 26,

Mr Neville Chamberlain told trade unionists that the conscription proposals related to men between the ages of twenty and twenty-one, and no exemptions would be allowed, except on medical grounds. Conscripts would serve for six months intensive training in the regular army, after which they would have the option of joining the territorials or being transferred to the Army reserve.

A delegation told Mr Chamberlain that it was opposed to conscription in peacetime, on principle, and urged that it would b e impracticable at present.

ANNOUNCED IN ,COMMONS

(Per British Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10.58 a.m.), RUGBY, April 26,

The announcement that a bill would be introduced giving powers to call up for military training, all men between 20 and 21, was made by Mr Neville Chamberlain in the Commons.

He stated Government had recently given fresh consideration to the procedure applicable to measures which it might consider necessary to put the country into a complete state of preparedness for defence. The results of its investigations showed the present procedure for mobilisation of the forces is antiquated in character, and quite unsuited to modern conditions, based as it is upon the hypothesis that war could only come after such a period of warning as would give time to change from peace to a war footing. Broadly speaking, under the present procedure, mobilisation, whether complete or partial, can only take place after the issue of a proclamation, which is different in the case of each service, declaring that a state of emergency exists. The issue of such proclamations was no doubt originally contemplated as taking place when an outbreak of war appeared imminent, but in the present times, war may not appear imminent, and yet the general conditions may be so uncertain, that it is desirable to take certain precautions without publicity and shock to the public confidence, which would be caused by the issue of proclamations. Accordingly the Government has decided to at once introduce a bill, which will simplify the procedure and enable the Government, by Order in Council, to authorise various service departments to call up any class or description of the reserve auxiliary forces.”

SCOTTISH CONGRESS OPPOSES. (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.). LONDON, April 26.

The Scottish Trade, Union Congress passed a resolution that conscription would not increase the effective defence of Britain, but would have a contrary effect. It called on the Government- to withdraw the proposal. THE CHIEF POINTS. OF THE ■ STATEMENT. (Received this day at 11.23 a.m.) RUGBY, April 26. The chief points of Mr Chamberlain’s momentous conscription statement in the Commons this afternoon, were that the Government would introduce two bills, one to enable service departments to call up any class or description of reserve and auxiliary forces, while the main features of the other are:—Firstly: The power to call up for military training, all men between twenty and twenty-one. Secondly: Training to be given only in this country, except if war breaks out, when the liability to serve abroad would apply to all alike, whether already called up or not. Thirdly: Men to be called will receive, six months’ training, and at the end of that period they will be discharged and given the choice of entering the Territorial Army for years, during which time they would be called upon to fulfil normal obligations of the territorial soldier, or of passing to a special reserve of the regular army. Fourthly: Provision will be made whereby individuals, when good cause is shown, can anticipate or postpone for a specified period, the date of theii calling up, as far as national interests permit.. Fifthly: Provision will be made for exemptions, by tribunals of conscientious objectors, on condition that the> undertake work of a national importance.