COMPULSORY SERVICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 6

COMPULSORY SERVICE

R.S.A. REAFFIRMS DEMAND. (Press Assn) WELLINGTON, May 29. The decision of the Dominion eouncil of the N.Z.R.S.A. to demand compulsory 'universal national service was reaffirmed by the annual conference of delegates.

The Tau.maru.nui branch had a remit o.n the subject, which was dropped in favour of the above, and in a note to this it stated that ever since the Government’s promise of compulsory national service, volunteers liad been called for in nearly all branches of the services. Only recently married men with up to three children were being asked to enlist in tiie Territorial Force, while thousands of single men were doing nothing for their country. On March 2o six single men irom one Public Works Department camp came before the medical board for duty overseas in a non-combatant unit. These men had been invited to volunteer. Another resolution was: “That the Dominion council respectfully requests the Government to reintroduce and encourage military training in all secondary schools throughout the Dominion.”

EXTENSION TO HOME GUARD. A recommendation from the Christchurch association, approved by the defence committee, that as compulsory national service had been introduced, it should lie extended to the HomeGuard, ami guardsmen so accepted should bo compelled to carry out strictly a specified course of training was carried.

Other recommendations on Home Guard matters that were approved were: “That the whole costs of organisation and maintenance of the Home Guard should he borne' by the Government. That members of the National Military Reserve. Home Guard, and other home defence forces, be given adequate shooting practice till they become proficient marksmen.”