61. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Labour the number of youths who applied for the postponement of call-up for National Service on grounds of hardship, and the numbers whose applications were rejected in each of the years 1951 to 1954, respectively.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe information is contained in the following table:
§ Mr. WatkinsonDuring the first six months of 1955, about 21,000 men were rejected as medically unfit for National Service; in that period, about 350 applied to be registered as conscientious objectors and it is estimated that over 60,000 applied for deferment. It is not possible to give a figure for National Service men called up during that period with which a valid comparison could be made. The figure includes many men of different age 101W classes, who for one reason or another have had their call-up deferred or postponed.