E.F.S. PERSONNEL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 21, 20 October 1942, Page 3

E.F.S. PERSONNEL

Liable For Overseas Armed Forces A statement clarifying the position of members bf the E.F.S. who are called up for service with the armed forces has been made by the Director of National Service, Mr. J. S. Hunter. He said that men who are physically fit and of age for overseas service are not exempted Iroin that service through being members ot the E.F.S. Trained E.F.S. personnel have been appealed for, and, as a general rule appeals have been granted, with respect to service in the Territorial orce. Fire brigade service in the past, has been accepted as the equivalent of Territorial service, provided the member had complied with the training required, Such training, the Director points out, has no. been accepted as the equivalent of overseas service, except in respect of trained brigadesmen with not less than three years’ service. Brigade difficulties have increased as a result of the full-time mobilization of the Territorial Force aud the imposition of an overseas liability on all members of such force. . ~ The position is that reservation tor fire-fighting purposes cannot be granted in respect of men between the ages or 21 and 41 who are of medical grade 1, the Director adds. It is therefore necessary that an endeavour should be made to recruit E.F.B. personnel from men below grade 1 or over the overseas age limit.