MOBILISATION DEFERRED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22671, 26 August 1943, Page 4

MOBILISATION DEFERRED

Auckland Watersiders Instruction By Director • N.Z.P.A.' AUCKLAND. August 25. Instructions have been received by the Army, following action taken in Wellington, to defer the mobilisation of a group of Auckland members of the Waterside Workers’ Union who had been made available for sendee and who were due to report for duty at the end of this month. It is understood the instruction w T as that the mobilisation of the men should be “deferred in the meantime.” Appeals in respect of the men lodged by the Auckland Waterfront Control Commission were heard by the Armed Forces Appeal Board early in June, when it was decided that 75 category A men should be made available for the Forces. This number w r as later reduced to 61 by reason of altered medical gradings and further evidence regarding domestic responsibilities of the men. On June 15 the Board decided that 18 of the men should be made available immediately, 24 on August 15 and 13 on October 15. Two men were to enter camp on September 1, and one was reboarded. The remaining three cases were adjourned sine die on the personal appeals of the men.

The instruction for the deferment of mobilisation affects the men who were made available for immediate service but who had not yet entered camp, and those were to have gone in this month. It is not known whether any instruction has been received concerning the rest of the reservists. "When approached, the Appeals Division of the National Service Department had no comment to offer other than that it had actetl on instructions received from the Director of National Service.