TERRITORIAL FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1941, Page 7

TERRITORIAL FORCE

COLLECTIVE TRAINING TO COMMENCE IN JANUARY. ANNOUNCEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The calling up of the Territorial Force for two months’ collective training is to be proceeded with in January next,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in a statement issued last night. “Since the announcement was first made that Territorial units would be required to commence two months' training in January, representations have been made to the Government for the training to be deferred till later in the year and thus avoid taking men for training at the busiest time of the farming season. These representations have received the fullest consideration of both the Primary and Secondary Industries Committee of the War Council and the War Cabinet, but in view of the urgent need for bringing the Territorial Force up to the required standard of fighting efficiency with a minimum of delay, it has been decided to proceed with the training in January, as originally arranged. Periods for Training. “The Territorial Force is organised into various brigade groups, and the main purpose of the proposed training is to concentrate all units comprising a brigade group under its commander so that advanced training may be carried out,” said Mr Jones. He explained that as it was not possible for several reasons to put the whole of the Territorial Force into camp at the one time, and as it suited industry better to spread the training, two training periods had been arranged as follows: NORTH ISLAND. First period—January 10-March 7. Second period—March 14-May 9. SOUTH ISLAND. First period —January 5-March 2. Second period —March 9-May 4. “It has further been arranged,, as far as possible, that those units in which there is a large proportion of men engaged in primary production will be included in the second period,” said Mr Jones. If the fullest value is to be obtained from this training, it is essential that units should be up to full strength, and this requires that all men should be present in camp with their particular unit. Appeal to Employers. “I fully appreciate that with the prirpary production season at its height, it will be difficult for many farm workers, freezing workers, and other men engaged in seasonal work, to attend for training when required. For that reason it is realised that provision must be made to grant exemption to those workers who are essential to industry, but I would appeal to employers to do everything in their power to release their employees for training, and to refrain from making application to manpower committees for exemption unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Unless - a man can be released for training with the unit to which he is attached, he will probably have to be exempted from the collective training altogether, as it is most unlikely that he could be posted to another unit for training during the second period commencing in March. Issuing of Notices. “The notices calling up the Territorial soldiers for training will be issued as soon as possible, and the men should immediately advise their employers of the date of their training. Those employers who find that it is not possible to spare their employees during the training period should make application in writing to the manpower committee in their district, and all such applications must be lodged at the earliest possible date, and at least not later than the end of November. Last minute applications cannot be favourably considered by the committees. “The Government has taken the course of commencing intensive training in January, fully realising all the implications as far as seasonal workers are concerned, but the necessity of having an adequately trained territorial force in this country is of paramount importance at the present time, and it is hoped that the present system for the lodging of appeals for men who cannot be spared will safeguard the interests of primary production and of other important industries.”-