§ 16. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Labour if he will give consideration to the desirability of exempting steeplejacks from military service, in view of the continuous training and experience required by young steeplejacks in order to become proficient and reliable in their specialised calling.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI have no power to exempt anyone from his obligations under the National Service Acts, but a young man learning to become a steeplejack may 232 have his call-up deferred until the completion of his training if the necessary conditions are satisfied.
§ Mr. SorensenIf the men express a preference for naval training rather than for military training, will they be accepted into the Navy?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNo, Sir. A man may express a preference, but it is for the Service Department to decide whether they accept him.
§ Mr. SorensenCan my hon. Friend not take into account the fact that men who are training for this sort of work find a certain amount of advantage by going into the Navy rather than into the Army?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThis matter has been discussed in the House on many occasions.