The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1943. 41 TO 45 AGE GROUP

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 4

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1943. 41 TO 45 AGE GROUP

first announcement of the War Cabinet"s decision not to mobilise permanently men in the 41 to 45 age group, called for military service on December 22 last, was made by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, at a Christchurch East byelection meeting on Wednesday evening. On the day this call-up was gazetted the Minister of National Service, the Hon. A. McLagan, announced that although these men, numbering almost 32,000, had been called up for military service, the ’‘whole question of the proper utilisation of manpower in New Zealand would be considered by the War Cabinet early in the New "Year.” Mr McLagan also announced that medical examination of the men would not begin until February I, and by that time "the posting of the men concerned would be considered in the light of the general manpower requirements of the Dominion.”

Apparently the War Cabinet has tiow made its decision, but for some unaccountable reason the men most concerned have been denied immediate knowledge of a decision which was of some importance to them personally, and was perhaps of even greater importance to industry apd business throughout the country, for this age group probably includes a higher percentage of executives and "key” men than any of the groups previously called up. In these circumstances it is extraordinary that a Minister whose responsibilities are not directly concerned with defence or the utilisation of manpower should have proclaimed the War Cabinet’s decision at a meeting of the Christchurch East electors.

Mr Sullivan said at this meeting that he had found few matters arousing the attention of the electors in the campaign. "He had found,” states a report of the meeting, “that one of the questions in which the people were very interested, and naturally so, was the position of the married men from 41 to 45 years of age recently called up, and the action the Government was going to take with them.” Mr Sullivan then revealed that the men would not be permanently mobilised, but those qualified for service would probably undergo a short period of training. The Minister added: “I think that it is a matter that will be of some importance to people in the electorate, and they will be glad to know that there is no intention of permanently mobilising these men in the Army, apd they will be given only a comparatively small amount •f military service.” The question is important to approximately three times as many men as there are electors in Christchurch East electorate; it is inexcusable that the decision of the War Cabinet should be produced like a welcome rabbit out of the hat by a Minister seeking votes for the Government Candidate in a by-election. The Government has a few secrets which must be kept, but it has become so obsessed with a desire for secrecy that the people are on occasion treated with wilful and unpardonable contempt by the political leaders of the country. Had the Minister of Supply not thought it expedient to pass on this item of news to an election audience there is no knowing how long the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, or the Minister of National Service would have held their silence on a question of personal concern to 32,000 men. Mr Sullivan, since the War Cabinet decision is apparently no longer confidential, was entitled to pass the information on. The blameworthy Ministers are those who appear to think that the public should be told nothing until it suits them to speak.