SHEARER SOLDIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1940, Page 9

SHEARER SOLDIERS

SEASONAL LEAVE GRANTED. AUSTRALIAN SCHEME. Shearers in the A.I.F. and other seasonal workers whose services are sought by employers and farmers with duties on their own properties may be granted leave to return temporarily to civil life to perform their special work during rush seasons. This was mentioned by the Minister for the Army when discussing the scheme to return to civil life those tradesmen in the A.I.F. who were in excess in the numbers required in their particular trade. The army requires skilled tradesmen in varying numbers in 119 avocations. In every instance precise numbers are specified for men in these callings. Whenever there is an excess of the number required the excess men will be given an opportunity to return to civil life. The excess men if they show a desire and can be re-absorbed into industry will be given an opportunity to return to civil life on long leave without pay. They will still remain at the disposal of the Army and be available for callup whenever the exigencies of war may demand it. The men in reserved industries not required by the Army will be given the opportunity to take discharges. No compulsion will be exerted to leave the A.1.F., nor will there be any compulsion for them to return to their ordinary civil occupation.