SERVICE TO BE COMPULSORY

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 6

SERVICE TO BE COMPULSORY

emergency reserve CORPS

all males between 18 AND 66 (P.A) WELLINGTON, January 22. Important policy steps in the enrolment of personnel for emergency precautions and other civil defence services are announced by the Government in a statement, which points out that the outbreak of war in the Pacific has necessitated an urgent review of the whole question of man power to fill the necessary services. Thousands of additional members are required to . bring the services up to minimum establishment, taking into account the necessity for providing wastage under actual emergency conditions and wider functions in firewatching and other duties.

After a comprehensive review of the whole position the Government has decided that service is to be spread more equitably over all sections of the community. The work performed by the civil defence services being for the safety of the whole community, the principle of spreading hardship or sacrifice as equally as possible applies to them with as much force as to the armed forces. The equitable spreading of sacrifices among all sections of the community places on every fit man an obligation to perform national service.

PROVISION FOR ENROLMENT

Appropriate amendments to thd National Service Emergency Regulations have been passed and the War Cabinet has decided that the Minister of National Service shall now issue an order directing, with the necessary exceptions, enrolment in the Emergency Reserve Corps of all male persons who have attained the age of 18 years but who have not attained the age of 66 years. By these measures the principle of compulsory service securing equality of treatment will be applied to . all male British subjects between 18 and 66. The exempted classes are as follows: (1) Men in receipt of invalid pensions; (2) inmates for the time being of hospitals, mental hospitals, blind institutes and prisons; (3) men already enrolled in the Home Guard, the National Military Reserve, the E.P.S. or any other branch of the Emergency Reserve Corps; (4) men actively attached to any branch of the armed forces. Men between the ages mentioned who are hot included in one of the exempted classes are required to complete a form of enrolment and forward it within 14 days to the nearest E.P.S. headquarters, where an acknowledgement of the enrolment will be given. Each man will be interviewed by an officer of the E.P.S. so that his availability and suitability for service can be fully examined.

ALLOCATION OF PERSONNEL

In the allocation of personnel to the different branches of the Emergency Reserve Corps full regard will be given to the circumstances of each man in order to secure the fairest possible distribution of service throughout the whole population. Separate arrangements are being made for a continuous fire-watching service in certain vulnerable areas. Building fire wardens will make direct contact with all men in buildings under their control and from those liable for service they will select sufficient personnel to man a continuous service. Any shortages in personnel will be made up from adjoining buildings. . Personnel for traffic and police services in rural areas will be selected directly by the officers of the districts concerned.

At the present time the number of women enrolled for service in the Emergency Precautions Service is regarded as satisfactory, particularly when the reserves serving in the various branches of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary are taken into account.

Attention is being directed to the registration of industries to cope with the demand for increased production and to replace men being called up for service in the armed forces.