ENOUGH SINGLE MEN

Southland Times, Issue 24460, 13 June 1941, Page 6

ENOUGH SINGLE MEN

Territorial Fo roe

(Special) WELLINGTON, June 12. “It is not proposed at present to call up married men, with certain exceptions, for the Territorial Force provided that we can get enough smge men, and we think we can, said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in an interview today. The Minister was asked whether the Government intended to call up for territorials married men in the overseas age group. “The total establishment of the lerritorial Force is 35,000 men, but on account of the draw-off for overseas forces, that number has been reduced and tho number in the territorials is now less than establishment, Mr Jones said. With a review of volunteers for the overseas forces who had been classed as IA or 2 and the acceptance of some of them into the territorials, plus the recruitment ot 18-year-olds of Grade 1 it was hoped to make up the deficiency. “We also have men between 41 and 46 years of age who, if of the right medical grade, are automatically transferred to the territorials, he said. “This has given us for the territorials men aged 18, 19 and 20, those between 21 and 40 already graded 1A or 2, suitable men from 41 to 46 and a certain number of married volunteers.