SERVICE ABROAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 170, 21 July 1942, Page 6

SERVICE ABROAD

POSITION CLARIFIED MEN OF 21 TO 41 ONLY (P.A.) "WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, stated to-day that numerous inquiries had been received since the recent amendment to the National Service Regulations, which made liable for overseas service all members of the territorial force, whether volunteers or balloted men, who had previously only been liable for home defence service. Mr. Jones added that territorials consisted of men between the ages of 18 and 45 years and the policy up to the present had been to send abroad only those who had reached the age of 21 but who had not passed the age of 41 years. There was no present intention that this policy should be changed. The confusion was caused by the fact that Amendment No 12. of National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940, covering the question, makes no reference to age, but states in paragraph 3 (sub-sec-tion 1): "Every male member of any armed force shall be liable as such member for service wherever he is required, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere," and in sub-section 2: "The regulations shall apply to all male members of any armed force . . ." The Generaf Reserve, from which the members of the armed forces are drawn, is classified in three divisions,i the first covering single men, 19 to 45 years; the second married men. 19 to 45 years; and the third, boys 16 to 19 years and men 46 years and over. The first and second divisions were further sub-divided into three classes: Class A. 21 to 40 years (inclusive); Class B, 19 and 20 years; and Class C, 41 to 45. In a statement made in Wellington on June 6. when announcing that a military ballot covering second division men. aged 32 to 34 years, was to be called, and that they would be deemed liable for service outside New Zealand without participating in a further ballot, the Minister of National Service, Mr. Semple, said: "Amendments to the regulations are being made providing that all men eligible for overseas service (21 to 40 years) who had been previously called up for the Territorials, and all volunteer Territorials, shall be automatically deemed liable for overseas service. The right of appeal will be provided for."