TERRITORIAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 17, 15 October 1943, Page 4

TERRITORIAL SERVICE

Training Scheme To Start Shortly

EFFECT ON INDUSTRY

Dominion Special Service. NAPIER, October 11.

Intimation that the Territorial (raining scheme would shortly be introduced, involving every single mum between 18. and 40 years and married men without children between 18 and 30 years, all of whom would be liable to do one month's training a year, was given by the Dominion Manpower Controlli-, Mr. 11. L. Bockett, to the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Conference, It was appreciated, lie said, that there were some sections of people who would not be available for this service, and then again there were many others whose entry into camp would seriously interfere with essential production. The department realized Unit there would be need for a fairly big number of exemptions from such service, and, though in certain industries and classes of the community a 'blanket exemption could toe given, responsibility for making appeals would have to rest on employers. A statement by Mr. Bockett to the effect that the Territorial Army was again going to assist the farming community materially in the harvesting season and other essential summer work prompted several of the delegates to question him closely on this point. “If these men are going to be.put into the Territorial Force and then put out to work on farms, why not manpower them straight to harvesting?” be was asked. Mr. Bockett replied that the men would be going out in parties under military control and not as individuals. Questioned whether the men so engaged would be paid award rates or just Army pay and what hours they would have to work, he said that they would certainly be paid Army pay, but he could not say whether there would be any additional pay, though he thought that this was likely. He had no knowledge of what the hours of work would be. “Is the call up for one month in camp for military training purposes or for the provision of harvesting labour?” was another question. “I can only say that I know that the farmers will be very glad to know that the Army is going to help them,” he replied.