PUBLIC SERVANTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 December 1940, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVANTS

NO COMPULSION TO JOIN HOME GUARD [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. j “Every permanent head and con--1 trolling officer has been asked to act 'as a recruiting agent for the Home , Guard.” said the Public Service Comj missioner, Mr T. Mark, yesterday, when j replying to questions on steps being taken in the service to enrol public servants in the defence organisation. •It is an organised campaign on my 'part as titular head of the service to J get as many public servants as possible in j the Home Guard, but no compulsion is being used.” A report that officers hud been asked to prepare lists of names of those servants eligible for the Home Guard and' those who had offered their services j j was referred to the Public Service i Commissioner. He said he had not inj structed that the lists should be pre-! ! pared, but he had commended the j ! Home Guard to all servants. At the beginning of November, a .circular issued by the Commissioner | commended enlistment in the Home I Guard to all State employees who felt j that they were able to do more to help ! the war effort of the Government than j j they were doing. In the latest issue | of his circular, the Commissioner also j commended enlistment in the National Military Reserve to all public servants ; who were returned soldiers and were j able to pass the necessary medical ! test.