MARRIED MEN IN TERRITORIALS

Southland Times, Issue 24600, 24 November 1941, Page 4

MARRIED MEN IN TERRITORIALS

WITHDRAWAL REFUSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 22. To deplete the territorial force at this stage by withdrawing all married men or those who had no children or only one child would be most inexpedient. as well as unnecessary, Stated the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, today in a further reference to married territorials who may be balloted for overseas service next year. The Minister was referring to the reported complaints by some married members of the territorial force that although they will be called up by ballot for overseas service during 1942 they will be required to do two months’ collective training with their units early that year. The rule adopted for men drawn in the overseas ballot was: (a) If a man was at the time of the ballot performing his training with a territorial unit in camp he was required to complete the prescribed course of training; (b) if a man at the time of the ballot was not in camp he was not required to enter camp. In substance this practice had been in force from the beginning of the ballot system and it was incorrect to state that a different policy was adopted for single men. The Minister emphasized the importance at present of retaining the stability of the territorial force. He added that all married men without children would not be drawn in the first ballot of married men and those not drawn in the first ballot would not be called up for some time. Until a man was drawn in an overseas ballot it was not known whether an appeal would be lodged by him or on his behalf. If, therefore, married men were now to be discharged from the territorials and if it was later found they were ineligible for the Expeditionary Force unnecessary confusion would result. If a married man who was in camp required time to make arrangements about his affairs when ■ called in an overseas ballot after the conclusion of territorial training and before going to the Expeditionary Force it was open to him to lodge an appeal.