YOUTHS MUST PREPARE TO GO TO CAMP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 83, 9 January 1950, Page 5

YOUTHS MUST PREPARE TO GO TO CAMP

Between Monday and January 23, all youths who reached the age of 18 years on or after November 1 last • must register for compulsory military service. An obligation is placed on employers to ensure that all persons in their employ who are liable for service have actually registered, Youths who. are still under the age of registration when the first period ends on January 23 will be required to register within 14 days of their eighteenth birthday. It is estimated that 3000 youths will be registered this year. The medical examinations will probably begin on February 15 and will be in full swing by February 20.

As there is no office of the Department of Labour and Employment here, local boys will have to obtain their registration forms from the Post Office.

There is no definite indication yet when the camps will be held, but so far this district is concerned, -farmers are hoping that it will not be during the busy part of the dairy season. *ln that industry, more than in any other, the impact will be felt here.

Actually, in the town itself, there will not be many working youths affected, though the possibility of an early call to camp might restrain some youngsters who had anticipated taking up employment after leaving High School. However, businesses in town are not likely to be affected materially, because young boys seeking work in this town are as rare as elephants wanting to buy ice-cream in local milk bars.

Mr Wilkes, the postmaster, has been furnished with a formidable array of forms. The lads will be required to fill in a registration form first of all. Then, if they wish, they may fill a form applying for the postponement of their being called up for service. They may also apply for' registration as conscientious objectors, though to do so successfully they must be prepared, when asked for it by the appropriate authorities, to produce sufficient evidence that ’ the objection is sincerely based on the dictates of conscience. The lads will be allowed to say which of : the services they prefer to join, and information concerning the three services and the kinds of work required in them will be available.