CONSCRIPTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 8

CONSCRIPTION

MILITARY SERVICE WORK FOR WAR COUNCIL FIRST MEETING THIS WEEK [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "The introduction of conscription for military service will be considered by the war council at its first meeting, probably this week," said the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Eraser, during the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Fraser added that many problems were involved and said that the regulations could provide only the machinery.

Mr. Fraser said that one of the first jobs of the war council when it met, which he hoped would be this week, would be to decide what action to take to enforce compulsory enrolment. The council included men with long and important military experience. The problems were intricate, including compulsion for home service and overseas service and the interlocking of both services. Men might be called up this month for home service and probably in a month or two for overseas service, It would be humanly impossible for anv regulations or Act to provide for all the details of any scheme. Keynote of the Regulations

"All I can say is that compulsion is the keynote of the regulations —compulsion in regard to persons and property —and it is just a question of how that is to be .put into operation," said the Prime Minister. "That will be the very first problem the war council will have to consider. There is no shirking of the issue. There are a number of problems to be decided, such as the dovetailing of the remaining volunteers into the compulsory system. Decisions have to be made. If they do not reflect the spirit and the letter of the regulations they will be a fraud on the people." x Compilation of Register

Discussing the compilation of the register of manpower Mr. Fraser said that it would not hold up anything.

An Opposition Member: Twelve months too late.

"Which one'of you would have advocated conscription for overseas service six months ago?" asked the Prime Minister.

Opposition Members: All. "No," replied Mr. Fraser. "I know that from discussion with members. Some of the men with military knowledge on the Opposition benches were in favour of compulsion for home defence as a reservoir for overseas service." There was no suggestion of compulsion as long as the situation remained as it was and the volunteers came forward, added Mr. Fraser, but the moment the situation developed and it became apparent that things were going against the Allies there should be 110 hesitation. With the change in the situation the question of home defence had surged up. Every suggestion was considered pnd the questions were being dealt with at the maximum of speed and organisation at the urging of the Government.