EMPLOYERS MUST CO-OPERATE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 49, 31 May 1940, Page 4

EMPLOYERS MUST CO-OPERATE

New Home Defence Scheme

defence scheme a success, the cooperation of all employers is necessary and urgent. Commenting on this aspect of the scheme, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, stated: ie order to make the new home "The utmost co-operation from employers is required if this scheme is to become a success. A great deal depends on the employers, not only in giving every encouragement and opportunity to those young men who volunteer and are now being organised for training, but also to ensure, when that training is completed, they will go back to their former positions. It will be an obligation on the part of the employer to take back into employment the soldiers who have been training under the home def ence scheme." » The mobilisation plan for the organi- , sation and efficiency of a home defence | force, released by the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, recently, makes provision for a home army of approxim-_ ately 20,000 officers and men. This force | will be clothed, equipped and armed, | and will embark on a scheme of training | through six stages. ) ; In a reference to the scheme, the Minister of Defence paid a tribute to the | Territorial Force of New Zealand, which | was prepared for immediate action when war broke out. "The Territorials played an invaluable part in providing officers and n.c.o.’s for the Expeditionary Force," he said. "Our new scheme gives to young men the Opportunity to become officers and fi.c.o.’s, mot only in the home we eth ’ ) force, but also for the Expeditionary Force overseas. _ "There is no doubt that we have e particularly fine type of young man in_ our Territorial force to-day. This is noticeable on such parades as those of Anzac Day, when the comment regarding their physique was most favourable. I am satisfied that the training these men will receive will make for even more improvement." The age limit for Territorials was recently altered so that young men of 18 years of age could begin their training. Previously the age was 21, This means that many young men who desire to go into training immediately will be able to do so. Then; by the time they are 21 and wish to enlist for overseas . service, they will have completed a good "deal of their necessary training. ~ Rates of pay and allowances for offi- . cers, n.c.o.’s and men of the Territorial "Force called up for training under the new scheme will be the same as those .for members cf the 2nd N.Z.E.F, sery"ing in the Dominion,

The two most important features of the new scheme will be (1), the raising, as rapidly as possible, of the general standard of efficiency of troops allotted to the protection of the main ports; (2), clothing, arming and equipping those battalions and sub-units of the National Military Reserve (Class II.) which have been organised for the purpose of supplementing the Territorial fortress battalions; (3), improving the general standard of efficiency of all Territorial units. The new scheme will begin by June 1, when officers.and n.c.o.’s of Fortress battalions of Territorial units will begin a month's intensive training at district Army schools, sat