VOLUNTARY AID

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19803, 3 December 1938, Page 9

VOLUNTARY AID

SERVICES IN EMERGENCY BRITISH PREPARATIONS BEST USE OF RESOURCES REGISTRATION SOU EM E (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.45 p.m. RUGBY. Dec. 1. The eagerly-awaited statement by the Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson, on measures the Government had decided to adopt to ensure that the manpower and womenpower of the country were organised in the most effective and .practical way for voluntary service in an emergency was made in the House of Commons to-day.

•Sir John Anderson intimated that he hoped to make a similar comprehensive statement soon on other aspects of the responsibilities with which he had been charged, namely, civil defence.

Dealing with the national register, Sir John Anderson said that the Government had come to the conclusion that a compulsory register was not at present necessary or desirable, though it might become necessary and for that reason, and so that it could be speedily compiled, he was taking steps to prepare the necessary machinery for the purpose.

The Government, however, was satisfied that all the immediate needs of the situation could best toe met oy a voluntary register. It was essential or preliminary, however, that all who 'wished to serve the country should know how best their services could toe utilised.

Handbook Proposed

It, therefore, was proposed to publish a handbook containing particulars of all services for which volunteers were required and indicating the types of men and women suitable for each, together with a list of the key occupations in which individuals could best serve the State in a time of emergency by remaining at the work for which they had been trained.

Regarding this list, the Minister of Labour already had done much preliminary work in classifying occupations, but before settling on the final details there would be a consultation with representatives of both sides of industry.

In addition to this publicity, and as a preparation for a co-ordinated recruiting campaign for all the various services for which volunteers were required, which it is hoped to launch early in the new year, he was estab.ishing a national service organisation with local committees throughout the country, which would give full information and guidance to individuals in deciding where their duty lay.

Sir John Anderson made it clem that it was intended to provide that persons volunteering for certain classes of civilian service should toe invited tc undertake more definite obligations than had been expected hithero.

Recruiting Objections

The Minister stated that the aim was to enrol sufficient numbers of recruits to bring each of the various services up to the estimated requirements and to obtain for each service an adequate number of reserves. He also intimated that no special legislation would be required in connection with the proposals.

Press comment is divided between favouring Sir John Anderson’s voluntary scheme or preferring compulsion, or thirdly accepting the voluntary plan as a test.

The Times, taking the view last mentioned, asks: “Will the plan satisfy me nation, in which there undoubtedly is a lively feeling that the Government should have struck while the iron of relief at the Munich settlement was hot and demanded drastic measures ol national organisation and training? No doubt it is less dramatic than some would have wished, but fhe scheme possesses the supreme virtue of offering a thorough test of the public spirit of the nation. Everything depends upon the response to tlie appeal in the new year.” The Daily Telegraph outspokenly declares that a measure which taps only part of the nation’s man-power cannot be enough. “A voluntary register reveals the numbers of those willing to oiler service, but gives no guidance regarding .those who are capable of giving service,” continues the Telegraph. "It will be difficult, if registration is optional, .for people in the mass to realise the urgent duty. It will seem as though the Government is not very much in earnest after all.”