NATIONAL SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1940, Page 4

NATIONAL SERVICE

MINISTER CALLING CONFERENCE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE ORGANISATION. CALL ON LOCAL BODIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A conference is to be held .this week for the purpose of deciding the system of organisation to be adopted in respect to national service and rehabilitation. The conference will be presided over by the Minister of National Service and Rehabilitation, Mr Semple, and there will also be present the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, the Assistant Minister of National Service, Mr Wilson, and the heads of the State departments concerned. Mr Semple said on Saturday that the details of what was proposed had not yet been mapped out, but he had a mental picture of the organisation developed on the zone system, using the same organisations that had operated for Centennial purposes and for the raising of patriotic funds. That would mean that the men who did the work required would know how to go about it. The basis of the organisation was on the democratic franchise, as the chief local body in each zone would be central authority for the area and practically all local authorities would have representation, and he was of opinion that there should be power to strengthen them by co-opting individuals if this was thought desirable. He had already discussed the proposal with local bodies in the Auckland district. The central executive in each zone would be the connecting link between the organisation, the Minister, and the Government. The organisations he visualised would be responsible for reporting to the Minister of National Service in respect to manpower available and manpower required. Anybody who wanted to give service in New Zealand’s war effort would have first of all to make application to the organisation in the zone in which he resided. If labour was required in any industry or it was a question of the transference of labour from one industry to another the central organisation would report to the Minister, who would be responsible for- the necessary steps being taken.

Mr Semple said that the use of the available organisation obviated the coming into existence of a number of unofficial organisations that had no direct responsibility to the people.