VOLUNTARY REGISTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1938, Page 5

VOLUNTARY REGISTER

PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBLE EMERGENCY SIR JOHN ANDERSON OUTLINES PLANS. ORGANISATION THROUGHOUT BRITAIN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.43 a.m.) RUGBY, December 1. The eagerly awaited statement by Sir John Anderson on the measures the Government has decided to adopt to ensure that manpower and womenpower is organised in the most effective and practical way for voluntary service was made in the House of Commons. Sir John Anderson intimated that he hoped to make a similarly comprehensive statement soon on another aspect of the responsibilities with which he has been charged, namely civil defence. Dealing with a national register, Sir J. Anderson said the Government had come to the conclusion that a compulsory register was not at present necessary or desirable, though it might become necessary, and for that reason and so that it could be speedily compiled, steps would be taken to prepare the necessary machinery for the purpose. But the Government was satisfied that all the immediate needs of the situation could best be met by a voluntary register. It was an essential preliminary, however, that all who wished to serve their country should know how best their services could be utilised. It was, therefore, proposed to publish a handbook containing particulars of all services for which volunteers were required, and indicating the types of men and women suitable for each, together with a list of key occupations in which individuals could best serve -the State in a time of emergency by remaining at the work for which they had been trained. Regarding this list, the Ministry of Labour had already done much preliminary work by classifying occupations, but before settling final details there would be a consultation with representatives of both sides in industry. In addition to this publicity, and as a preparation for a co-ordinated recruiting campaign for all the various services for which volunteers were required, which it was hoped to launch early in the new year, he was establishing a national service organisation, with local committees throughout the country, which would give full information and guidance to individuals in deciding where their duty lay. Sir John Anderson made it clear that it was intended to provide that persons volunteering for certain classes of civilian service should be invited to undertake more definite obligations than had been expected hitherto.

The Minister stated that the Government’s aim was to enrol sufficient numbers of recruits to bring each of the various services up to the estimated requirements and to obtain for each service an adequate number of reserves. He also intimated that no special legislation would be required in connection with the proposals.