COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING STATEMENT RELATIVE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SERVICES AND THE OPERATION OF THE SCHEME

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1949 Session I, H-19b

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1949 NEW ZEALAND

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING STATEMENT RELATIVE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SERVICES AND THE OPERATION OF THE SCHEME

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Leave

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING BEOUIREMENTS OF THE SERVICES ANT) OPERATION OF THE. SCHEME 1. The compulsory Military Training Poll Act, 1949, provides for the takingof a poll on the adoption of a system of compulsory military training to meet the requirements of the non-regular forces. The introduction of such a system, is necessary as a detailed examination of the position has disclosed that itwould be impossible, under a system of voluntary service, to obtain the-non-regular forces that are considered essential for New Zealand's defence: requirements in the event of an emergency. 2. Although the personnel required for the non-regular Naval and Air Forces will be obtained on a voluntary basis from those who have registered in accordance with their liability (see paragraph 5 (1) below), the adoption of a system of compulsory training will assist those Services in completing the non-regular establishments that have been authorized. With regard tp the Army, compulsory military training is absolutely essential if it is to be able* to fulfil the tasks that are likely to present themselves in an emergency. 3. Arrangements will be made whereby men called up for training will be given the option of joining the non-regular Naval or Air Forces and,, subject to Service requirements and the needs of Navy and Air, they will be accepted for these Services. Otherwise, they will be required to serve in the; Army.

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4. In order to assist in the understanding of the proposals, the following -tables are published in this paper:— Manpower Required and Available eor the Non-regular Forces A. Availability 1 Numbers of males surviving in 18-years age group: — 1949 . . . . . . . . . . 14,050 1950 .. .. .. .. .. 13,350 1951 .. .. .. .. .. 13,110 1953 '.'. '.'. '.'. '.'. '.'. 13*230 1954 . . . . . . . . . . 13,550 Average number in age-group, 1949-54 inclusive: 13,430. (2) Yield of fit and available males for training (18 years age group); — Estimated numbers in Grades I and II (84 per cent, of 13,430) . . 11,280 Lass intakes into regular forces as follows:

Notes.—*Excludina women as follows: AT ffLrce :: :: :: :: H Army .. .. .. .. 200 But including 962 persons to be recruited in the United Kingdom. **Once the regular forces have been built up to full strength annual intake will be reduced to provide for maintenance only, requiring a total of 571. Numbers in Grade I and II remaining after intake to regular forces 10,326 .Less estimated exemptions on grounds of conscientious objection, public interest or undue hardship (10% of the residue of 10,326) .. 1,033 jSTet number available for non-regular forces annually . . .. 9,293 Say .. .. .. .. .. .. .. -9,000

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Total per Year. From Outside Age-group. From Age-group. Navy(20 per cent.) Build-up from 2302 to 2664* over 3 years 121 24 97 Annual intake to maintain 2664, allowing for average length of service of 8 years 333 67 266 Air Force — (50 per cent.) Build-up from 3096 to 4200* over 3 years 368 184 184 Annual intake to maintain 4200, allowing for average length of service of 10 years 420 210 210 Army — (75 per cent.) Build-up from 2583 to 3800* over 3 years 406 304 102 Annual intake to maintain 3800, allowing for average length, of service of 10 years 380 285 95 Total from within age-group 954**

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B. Requirements for Non-regular Forces Navy— To build-up and thereafter maintain 850* (three year period) .. .. 300 .Air Force — To build-up and thereafter maintain 1,450* (three year period) .. .. 500 .Army — To build-up and thereafter maintain at least 21,500* (three year period) .. 7,200 Total intake required .. ~ .. ..' ..8,000 ■ * Excluding (a) Women as follows; Air Force .. .. .. .. 50 Army .. .. 1,000 ■ (6) Volunteers outside the age-group as follows: Navy 150 Air Force 500 Army .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 It should be noted, however, that the figure for Army is a minimum one and that Army will take for training the whole of the fit men remaining •available. The actual number will vary from year to year with the size of the age-group as a whole. Estimate of Percentage op Labour Force Affected by the Compulsory Military Training Scheme These figures are estimated on the basis that 9,000 18-year olds will be called up each year under the Compulsory Military Training Scheme. The total available male labour force (including Armed Forces) is estimated to vise from 554,000 in 1950 to 563,000 in 1953, the decline in retirements from the labour force being greater than the decline in young persons entering if. The conversion from man-weeks to the equivalent of full-time withdrawal from the labour force is made on the basis of forty-eight working weeks per year.

* After making an adjustment to allow for the fact that 8 per cent, of the withdrawals will >be students and that students are not included in the total labour-force figures.

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Equivalent of Full-time Withdrawals from the Labour Force. Estimated Total Male Labour Force. Withdrawals as Percentage of Total Labour Force.* J 1950—9,000 recruits for 14 weeks | 2.K25 554.000 •44 1951—9,000 recruits for 14 weeks | 9,000 recruits for 2 weeks j 3.000 557,000 •50 1952—9,000 recruits for 14 weeks ; 18,000 recruits for 2 weeks j 3.375 560,000 • •55 1953—9,000 recruits for 14 weeks 27,000 recruits for 2 weeks j 3,750 563,0oo ■ •61

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In addition, the build-up of the regular forces to the approved establishment will, by 1953, involve the withdrawal of a further 42 per centof the total labour force. The overall percentage (including all regular and non-regular forces) at the end of 1953 is estimated at 2-13 of the total labour force. Estimated Industrial Distribution of 9,000 Eighteen-year Olds (Including Maoris) Primary industry .. .. .. .. . . 3,050 Secondary industry . . . . .. . . . . 2,650 Transport and communication . . . . . . . . 660 Distribution and finance . . . . .. .. . . 1,320 Public administration and professional .. .. . . 440 Domestic and personal services .. . . .. . . 160 Full-time students .. .. .. .. . . 720 Total .. . . . . .. .. .. 9,000 __ Finance The estimated annual cost of defence preparedness (including a system of compulsory military training) averaged over a period of the next five years is £17,250,000. At the present time expenditure is £9,441,000. The annual cost per head of population at the present time is, therefore, £5 4s. When a full scheme is in operation the cost is estimated at £(N.Z.)9 9s. per head of population. This compares with the estimated cost in the United Kingdom per head of population—viz., £(Stg.) 15 2s. 5. Operation of the Compulsory Military Training Scheme. —The following is an outline of the main features of the Compulsory Military Training Scheme to be adopted.— Eegistration (1) On reaching the age of 18 years all male British subjects ordinarily resident in New Zealand will register at the nearest District Office of the Department of Labour and Employment, either in person or by registered letter. Every person so registering will be enabled to indicate his preferenceas to the Service to which he would like to be posted for training. As far as is compatible with the requirements of each Service, the recruit will be posted in accordance with the preference he has indicated. Owing, however, to the limited requirements of the Air Force and Navy, no assurance can be given that every man will be able to serve in the branch of the Services which ho prefers. ■ Medical Examination and Other Prellminaries (2) Following registration, the Department of Labour and Employment will arrange for medical examination of the applicants. Those found fit for training will be served with an enlistment notice, and may then apply forpostponement of service. (3) The Department of Labour and Employment will then notify the appropriate service (Navy, Army, or Air) of the particulars of those who have not applied for postponement or who have been made available for service bydetermination of a Postponement Committee.

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(4) The appropriate Service will then issue a notice calling the recruit up for a period, of fourteen weeks' full-time training, which will normally commence in the year following that in which the recruit reached the age of eighteen years. (5) In certain cases, tlhe final selection of recruits for the Service to which they will be ultimately posted may be deferred until after calling-up notices have been issued. Pending such final selection the recruits will be called up by Army. Army Training (6) Army propose to hold two training periods each of fourteen weeks' duration for Army recruits in each year. One will be held in the summer months (commencing probably in January) and the other in the winter months (commencing in May). The latter period has been selected in order to meet the requirements of the farming industry and those engaged in seasonal occupations. An endeavour will be made to meet the wishes of other recruits as to the camp in which they prefer to train. Owing, however, to the necessity of keeping the numbers under training in each camp at a required strength, this may not always be possible. Note.—Two camps are proposed rather than three, as the instructional staffs are also . required to train all regular force troops and to hold regular force courses and examinations. They are also required to hold courses for Territorial Officers and N.C.O.s and, wherever possible, to assist with Territorial unit camps. Naval and Air Force Training (7) Naval and Air Force recruits will be called up for their period, of full-time training in a manner similar to that proposed by Army, with the possible qualification that it may prove desirable to spread this training over three intakes instead of two. This, however, remains to be decided. Such a procedure would reduce any adverse effect on industries and occupations of a seasonal nature. Subsequent Training (8) Following the completion by the Army recruit of his period of fourteen weeks' full-time camp, he will be posted to a Unit of the Territorial Force where he will be required to serve for three years, carrying out in each year fourteen days in camp and six days' other training (week-end camps and equipment parades). At the end of four years he will be posted to the Keserve, where he will remain for six years. No training is required while on the Reserve, but in the event of war or national emergency reservists may be called up for continuous service. The soldier must notify any change of address. (9) The procedure in the Navy and Air Force subsequent to the completion of the full-time training period will be generally similar to that adopted by Armv.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (2,525 copies), £23.

By Authority: R. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington. —1949. Price 6d.)

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