DELAYED MOBILISATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 6

DELAYED MOBILISATION

Recognition of the difficulty faced by the men who had received mobilisation orders for the Fourth Reinforcements has promptly been forthcoming from the Government, but there is still a probability that hardship will be suffered by many of the men if mobilisation is long postponed. The draft of men expected to enter camp this week, but because of the outbreak of measles mobilisation has been postponed indefinitely. The Government has announced that during the period of waiting those men who are unable to resume their former employment are to be entitled to receive military pay. In almost all cases the men concerned have resigned their civil positions, and often their places have been filled by other men. Inconvenience and hardship will be caused if the men are to go back to their old employment and uproot the new men engaged. On the other hand, if they remain unemployed their military pay without “ keep ” will be an inadequate compensation for their former wages or salaries. Board and lodging alone might represent as much or more than their military pay. In some instances it may be possible to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement between soldier and employer, but that will probably not be so in the majority of cases. The Minister has made an appeal in that regard, and no doubt the men will receive sympathetic treatment.

By the very nature of the trouble it is impossible yet to say when it will be advisable to proceed with the mobilisation. The epidemic of measles may be suppressed quickly or it may spread for weeks. Fortunately the disease does not appear to be in serious form, but precautions are necessary. The epidemic has spread beyond the confines of the military camps and has already affected a few civilians. If the delay is prolonged it may be necessary to provide further relief for the men who through no fault of their own have been thrown upon exceptionally small incomes.