TROOPS IN CAMP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 6

TROOPS IN CAMP

WILL DISPERSE ON 28th DECEMBER STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE IN REPLY TO POINT RAISED [United Press Association] WELLINGTON. This Day. All troops now in camp will disperse on 28th December, according to a statement made by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in reply to a point raised by a correspondent in a letter to the Editor of a Wellington paper. This the Minister points out, will allow the men to reach their homes for the usual family reunions that take place during the Christmas and New Year seasons.

The Minister pointed out that units of the Territorial Force now under training in camp were called up for three months from Ist October and therefore should remain in camp until 31st December.

If they were released from camps before Christmas. the training period would be foreshortened and this would adversely affect the progressive training programme which culminates in brigade training. However, it had now been decided that all troops will disperse from the camps on 28th December. The Minister also announced that arrangements had been made which it was expected would enable the medical examination of the majority of men receiving invalids’ benefits or war disablement pensions who were called up in the ballot to be dispensed with. A special medical board would examine the files of such men and except in special cases their fitness for military service would be determined without their being examined. Pensioners who were not already examined should advise the army if called up for service.

PREFERENCE CONSIDERED

FOR PARTICULAR ARM OF SERVICE POSITION CLARIFIED AUCKLAND. This Day. Many reservists called in the ballot have expressed doubts whether their preferences for particular units are considered. The position is that where a man has expressed a pi*eference for a particular arm of the service, provided he is suitable for tna J arm and there is a vacancy, he should be posted in accordance with his wishes. POSITION OF ASIATICS The position of Asiatics under the ballot is defined in a recent Army Instfruction. If a Indian. Malayan or other Asiatic is drawn in the ballot he is not to be medically examined or posted to a unit and will not be called to serve in the military forces.

WOMEN’S CAMP

AT AVONDALE RACECOURSE AUCKLAND. This Day. The first camp undertaken by a woman’s organisation trained for war service in New Zealand will be held at Avondale racecourse from 29th December to 7th January, when 200 members of the Women’s National Service Corps will go under canvas.