TERRITORIAL UNITS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 291, 13 November 1941, Page 6

TERRITORIAL UNITS

COLLECTIVE TRAINING

MUST START IN JANUARY

(Press Assn) WELLINGTON, Nov. 12. The calling up of tne lemtonal Force for t»o months’ collective training is to bo proceeded with in January nextj, stated the Minister lor Defence (Air Jones) m a statement issued to-night. bince the announcement was first made that the Territorial units would be required to commence two montlis training in January next representations have been made to tin. Government for the training to oc deferred until later m the year and thus avoid taking the men lor training at the busiest time oi tlie farming season.

“These representations have received the fullest consideration of born the Primary and Secondary Industries Committee of the AA’ar Council and the AA’ar Cabinet,” stated Air Jones “but in view of the urgent need io bringing the Territorial Force up t° the required standard of fighting eilieicncv with the minimum ol de ay _n, has been decided to proceed with the training in .January as originally arranged. The Territorial Force is organised into various brigade groups, and the main purpose ol the P ,< ?P°~U| training is. to concentrate ail the units comprising a brigade group under its commander so that ad\am cd training may be earned out As it is not possible for .several icasons to put the whole Territorial I’orce into camp at one time, and as it suits m dustrv better to spread the training, two training periods have been arrai gcd as follows: north island. First period.—January 10 to March

Second period.— March 14 to May 9. SOUTH ISLAND. First period.— January 5 to .Alarch

Second period.— Alarch 9 to May 4. -it lias further been arranged as Ui as possible that those units in which there is a large proportion of men engaged in primary production " , f included in the second period. If the fullest value is to be obtained from this training it is essential that tinunits shoulu be up to full and this requires that all men should be present in camp with their particular unit. . ... ”1 fully appreciate that with tile orimary production season at its height it will be difficult lor manv farm workers, freezing workers, and other men engaged in seasonal work to attend for training when required. For that reason it is realised that provision must be made to grant exemption to those workers who are essential to industry. But I would appeal to employers to do everything in their power to release their employees foi training and to refrain from making application to the man-power committees for exemption unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. “Unless a man can he released tor training with the unit .to which he is attached he will probably have to be exempted from collective training altogether. as it is most unlikely, that he could be posted to another .unit tor training during the second period commencing in Alarch. “The notices calling up Territorial soldiers for training will be issued as soon as possible and the men should immediately advise their employers ol the date of their training. A hose em]plovers who find that it is not possible jto spare their employees during the j training period should make applica- ; tion in writing to the man-power com•mittee at the earliest possible date, at i least not later than the end of NoIvcmber. Last-minute applications cannot be favourably considered bv the committees. “In conclusion,” said Air Jones, “the Government has taken the course of commencing intensive training in ; January fully realising all the inipli- ' cations as far as seasonal workers are : concerned, but the necessity of having ! an adequately - trained Territorial i Force in this country is of paramount ! importance at the present time, and | it- is hoped that the present system for j the lodging of appeals for men who cannot be spared will safeguard the j interests of primary production and ot j other important industries.”