FOR HOME GUARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 63, 16 March 1942, Page 4

FOR HOME GUARD

COMPULSORY SERVICE ESSENTIAL DUTIES R!MITRED. (P.A.) Wellington, March 14. The War Cabinet has approved regulations providing for compulsory service in the Home Guard* according to an announcement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, to-day, and amendments to the National Service Emergency Regulations embodying this decision were {>ass«*d this morning. The Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, is now empowered to dired ciasses ot persons lo I apply lor enrolment in tne Home Guard and the Director of National Service is authorised to call up lor service in the Home Guard any reservist who is a member of any class covered by the Minister’s order. A further amendment to the regulations gives the Minister authority to direct any class or classes ol persons Ito undertake such service considered necessary in the prosecution of the 'war effort. Where urgent works lor dele nee of civil purposes are require;!, this new provision will enable adequate labour to be quickly diverted ior this purpose. Men between the ages of 46 and 50 and women between the ages of 20 and 21 will shortly be required to register with a view to undertaking vitally important national service. An announcement to this effect was made by the Prime Minister to-day. He added that vitally important national service also would be available f>r men who had been found medically unlit lor military seev... They would serve their country in defence works and various essential wai industries and other activities which were linked with the war effort. The general procedure for men between 46 and 50 will be an interview with the district manpower officer or his representative followed by classification and direction. When required, interviews with women \\ill be <arried out in <onjunction with the W.W.S.A. but directions to essential work will be given by the district manpower officer. Special registrations of men in certain occupational work or other groups and special directions into essential work may also arise as the necessity required. The same machinery would also provide lor the direction of those offerings to undertake work of national importance. All persons directed into essential work in terms of these new arrangements will be entitled to full protection of the occupational re-establish-ment regulations in the same manner as if they had been soldiers called up lor seni< c.