SERVICE IN ARMED FORCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 6 August 1945, Page 4

SERVICE IN ARMED FORCES

TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, Aug. 4. Two important questions concerning service in the armed forces were discussed in the House of Representatives by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones). He saicj many parents were concerned about the youths of 18 years, and up to 23. and he had a son in a similar position. The difficulty as parents saw it was that the boys learned nothing except what was possible in the Army. It had been suggested, continued the Minister, that there might be an arrangement for these youths to return to New Zealand after a certain period overseas, but against that must be set the question whether a man with two of a family should be denied his right of return, against that, of a boy of 22 or 23. The Army did provide educational facilities and many youths took advantage of them. If a sufficient number of men could-be secured, then consideration could be given to whether anything could be done for the boys after three or four years’ service in New Zealand who were now doing operational duty overseas. He believed most of them wanted the experience of going abroad.

The Minister added that the report that Pacific service would not count fully had never been made officially, and he did not know who was responsible for it. “Overseas service.” he said, “means anywhere outside New Zealand.” There were about 2.000 men who had been in the Pacific now in the forces overseas. Those who had had two or more overseas service would be entitled to be brought back to New Zealand. Some members of the 3rd Division were in camp in New Zealand and provided they had had two or more years service in the Pacific or elsewhere overseas they would be allowed to remain in New Zealand, and a certain number of those men would be released.