OVERSEAS BALLOT

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

OVERSEAS BALLOT

POSITION OF MEN WHO HAVE I FNLISTED IN AIR FORCE APPEAL PROCEDURE | [United Press Association] WELLINGTON. This Day. | The Minister of National Service, the j ! Hon. R. Semple, yesterday made a ; ; statement clarifying the position which j lowing the gazetting of the names of i the men drawn in the ballot for over- ! Mr Semple said that a great deal of ; correspondence had been received from j men who had enlisted in the Royal j New Zealand Air Force and were in i doubt, what, they should do if they ! were drawn in the ballot. "The position is.” said the Minister. ! "that any reservist called up in the j ballot who has also lodged an applies- j non for service with the Royal New i Zealand Air Force and is awaiting a i decision in regard thereto, is requested J to notify the Air Secretary, Wellington, | ! and the Army Area Office should he | j desire to proceed with such application • j in lieu of undertaking army service, j Reservists are required to indicate j : their service preference within seven j days of receipt, of their calling up j j notice. ! ‘ Reservists who have not. made ap- j plication for Air f orce service are be - | I mg given the opportunity of applying j for certain positions in the Royal New j i Zealand Air Force, and the Fleet Air [ 1 Arm, provided they possess the quali- I 1 locations required for such positions. ! Full particulars, together with a form of application are being forwarded to each reservist called in the ballot. "The Air Secretary will investigate all existing and new applications of reservists desiring service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force or Fleet Air Arm, and will advise the Army Area Office and the reservist of his decision. | Arrangements will be made for those j reservists provisionally selected to ap- | pear before the requisite selection and medical boards, and, subject to their reaching the required standard, they will be posted for service in the appropriate branch of the Royal New Zealand Air Force or Fleet Arm in due “The opportunity of optional service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force granted to reservists called up from time to time is not in replacement o- ! the present voluntary system for the Air Force, which as available at any lime to applicants possessing the required qualifications. LODGING OF APPEALS “Appeals are required to be lodged within 10 days of the “Gazette” notice, that is, 14th December. Appeals against overseas service will be heard by appeal boards, which will shortly be appointed, and not (as in the case of Territorial appeals) by Manpower Committees. “The appeals must be sent, in the first place, to the Director of National ; Service, who will distribute them to the appropriate boards. Appeals may j be accompanied by any documentary evidence or statement of facts which appellants may wish to bring before the tribunal and if, after lodging an appeal, it is desired to bring forward any further evidence, it also may be sent to the director pending the appointment of the boards. “Reservists who have been drawn in both a territorial and an overseas ballot, and who have appealed against being called up for territorial service, should note that such appeal will not serve also as an appeal against overseas service. If postponement of overseas service is desired, a separate appeal must be lodged. If the territorial appeal has not been heard, or if it has j been heard and postponement of territorial training granted, no further action will be taken in respect of such appeal. If, however, there is an appeal against overseas service and postponement of such service is allowed, the Appeal Board may direct that the ap- | pellant undergo territorial training till such time as lie is required for service ! with the Expeditionary Force.”