MINISTER'S WARNING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 7, 23 January 1942, Page 5

MINISTER'S WARNING

MEN NOT REGISTERED FOR SERVICE

COMPLETE CHECK OF STAFFS

URGED

A warning to employers of their obligations under the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940, to ensure that their employees were registered for military service, was issued by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple. He 1 said that cases were still coining under notice where employers were not fulfilling these obligations.

"Now that married men are being called up for Territorial service," said the Minister, "it is absolutely imperative that all eligible reservists, that is to say, natural-born British subjects, both married and single between the ages of 18 and 46 years, should be registered under the regulations. Every man registered should be in possession of a certificate of enrolment and no employer should employ or continue to employ any man in that age group who cannot produce his certificate. In certain cases, such as aliens, Maori of half blood or more, men attested for overseas service, tlicy are not required to register. However, most of these men shoiuld be able to p rod nee some form of evidence giving reasons for their nonproduction of a certificate. "Some time ago I requested all employers to check up 011 their staffs to ensure that all men coming within the scope of the Regulations have registered. I now make a further request to all employers to have a very complete check of their employees to make absolutely sure that they are not retaining in their employment any unregistered men. Apart from the liabilities which a reservist incurs by avoiding registration, an employer himself may also incur a substantial penalty by retaining in his employment an unregistered man. Where, any employer is in doubt, about any particular case, he" should take the first opportunity of referring the matter to' the Director of National Service, Wellington."'