MILITARY SERVICE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4429, 23 May 1941, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE

YOUTHS TO SERVE. INCREASING THE TERRITORIAL FORCES. The decision of the Government to extend the age limit of the first division of the General Reserve so as to include males who have attained the age of 18 years was announced yesterday by the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash. “ This action does not involve any corresponding alteration in the age limit of any other class of the division. These young men will be required for home defence in the Territorials,” stated the Minister. “ They •will not in any case be called upon to serve outside New Zealand until they have reached the age of 21 years. “ Registrations must be made forthwith, forms for the purpose being obtainable at all post offices. These men will be called up by Gazette notice early in June, and if certified medically fit will be required to enter territorial camps for training at the beginning of, July. “ Those who subsequently attain the age of 18 years will be called upon at monthly intervals. “ Only those youths who are thoroughly fit and who pass a careful and rigid medical test will be accepted.” GROUPING OF MARRIED MEN. The order giving effect to the decision of the Government to enrol the 18-year class also provides for classification of the second division, which has been divided into 20 classes, according to an official announcement gazetted yesterday. They comprise four groups, each of five, sub-divided according to age and number of children. For example, the biggest class, married men aged 21 to 40 years inclusive, is sub-divided as follows: No children, F/0; one child, F/l; two children, F/2; three children, F/3; four or more children, F/4. Similar sub-division is made in the case of all other classes, namely, married men aged 41 to 45 years i both inclusive, denoted by the letter D; married men aged 20 years, denoted by the letter E. Although the second division of the reserve has thus been classified, married men are not required to and must not effect registration until the issue of a proclamation directing enrolment of the division, which will be at a later date.