In a letter to Salient, the Secretary of the Labour Department informs that students are not exempted from military service. They have to serve the full term under the National Military Service Act passed by the National Government.

This act provides that the minister may from time to time stipulate the age group liable to register for service. Those to whom such notice applies must register within fourteen days of its publication. At present, some 20-year-olds are already in uniform.

Minister of Labour Shand's pronounced Intention is to call up 20-year-olds each year. However, until a further notice is published in the Gazette no other age group is liable to register, states the Department.

The periods of training required under the act are:—

• a period of whole-time training of fourteen weeks.
• three years part-time training. This comprises 20 days each year, of which 14 days are in-camp training.
• three years' service on reserve.