FAMILIED MEN TO THE COLOURS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 27, 11 March 1942, Page 4

FAMILIED MEN TO THE COLOURS

THE announcement by the Minister of National Service, that March 25th will see the release of the ballot for approximately 17,,000 married men with children between the ages of IS and 28. brings us still closer to the realities and grimness of the struggle in which the Empire is engaged. With the war now in its third year, it is interesting to recall that the ballots for married men with children is well in advance of those issued during the progress of the last war, whim the ballots were based upon the conjugal status and not upon age. Possibly the present method is the fairer, but in these days of extreme gravity there will be few to worry about the fairness of the individual methods of obtaining lighting men. The difference to-day is that the war is a reality, to such an extent, that every able-bodied man clamours for the right to fight, be he single, mairied or familied Drafts going into camp are considered foitu.n3.te by those who by reason of their status and occupation, artforce.l to remain inactive, but for the limited training fuinished by the Home Guard. The new ballot, issued two weeks from to-day, will draw a further number from industry and commercial life. Undoubtedly there will be a further strain upon the country to maintain it normal functioning oi production and manufacture, but once more it ca i be expected to rise to the occasion, for the average per so a realises only too well that to-day it is a, case of tuildiri*4 up and perfecting home defence,, rather than that of sending men thousands of miles overseas to fight an enemy, vague and indistinct. To-day, with actual invasion threatening our shores every New Zealander worthy of the name is ready and. willing to become an active combatant in the- defence of God's own country. If our testing time lies ahead, then the call is to every able-bodied man to do his bit unreservedly, and it will surely be forthcoming.