MEN FOR HOME GUARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24866, 16 March 1942, Page 4

MEN FOR HOME GUARD

COMPULSORY SERVICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 15. An announcement that the War Cabinet had approved regulations - providing for compulsory service in the Home Guard was made by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, yesterday. Amendments to the National Service Emergency ' Re- ; gulations embodying this decision have been passed.

The Minister of National Service, Mr R. Semple, is now empowered to direct classes of persons to apply for enrolment in the Home Guard. The Director of National Service, Mr J. S. Hunter, is also authorised to call up for service in the Home Guard any reservist who is a member of any class covered by the Minister's order. On the issue of notice by the Director of National Service a reservist will be deemed to have become a member of the, Home Guard, and the provisions of the regulations will apply in regard to the right of appeal in the same manner as if the reservist had been called up for territorial service. No direction has yet been made under these provisions, and publicity will be given through the press as soon as any direction is made. The full procedure will then be outlined. . .

A further amendment to the regulations confers authority on the Minister to direct any class or classes of persons to undertake such service as may be considered necessary in the prosecution of the war effort. Previously a direction could only be made to individuals, but now the authority has been extended to cover classes of persons. "In view of ,the present war situation," Mr Fraser said, "it should be appreciated that the prosecution of much defence work is a matter of grave urgency, and where urgent works for defence or civil purposes are required this new provision will enable adequate labour to be quickly diverted for the purpose."