AUSTRALIA'S ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1012, 30 December 1910, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S ARMY.

NEW DEFENCE SCHEME. COMPULSORY REGISTRATION. The regulations and forms relating to such portions of tho universal military and naval training scheme which operate from January 1 next were passed by tho Commonwealth Executive Council recently, together with a code setting out the duties of area officers and the organisation of tho senior, cadets. The means adopted by the Minister of Defence to remind parents of the youths to whom the, schemc is to be first applied in the coming year—and tho lads themselves—of tho registration obligations under tho Defence Act; is a series of conspicuous notices which are to be exhibited" at post offices and other public places throughout the Commonwealth. Tlie first notice is as follows:—

UNIVERSAL OBLIGATION IN RESPECT TO NAVAL OR MILITARY TRAINING. NOTICE. Under Section 142 of the Defence Act,' all male inhabitants of Australia .who have resided therein for six months, and who, during the year December 31, 1913,' will' Teach tho age of 14,_ 15, IG, or i 17 years, are required to register themselves during the month of January, of the year 1911, and under the regulations, parents, guardians, and other persons acting in loco parentis, of those persons liable to be registered, are required to register such persons. Failure to register involves' a penalty not exceeding Forms of registration may bo obtained'.at all post offices or from tho area , officer of any training area! . . (Signed) . PETHBKIDGE, Secretary Department of Defence. Training area ; Address of area officer Postmasters are obliged to prominently exhibit this placard, with tho address of tho area officer clearly indicated. On seeing tho • notice any lad to whom the intimation applies, or his parent, can step into the local post.office and obtain a, registration.form, which requires the following information tc be given:— 1. Full. name and postal address of. the boy, together. with tno name of tho nearest post office. 2. Year of his birth. 3.' If at-tending-a school, tlie name of the school. 4. If claiming, exemption, the reason for the claim. - .

, In cases \vliere the boy does not fill in the form himself, a parent or guardian lias to fill in certain particulars, and sign his or "'her name, with an indication' of his of her relationship to the person r6gistered. Finally,; the person making the registration lias .to certify that "to the best of my knowledge and belief the fore-' going statements aro. true in every respect." It- is provided that "the . registration . forms, .when filled in, shall be forwarded :to the area officer cf the district . in which. the signatory resides by handing it to a 1 postmaster. The post office does tho actual mechanical wort <by transmitting the document,. It has. to be remembered that under the lan* all lads who are 14,. 15, 16 or 17 years of age on any day in 1911 are treated as having. attained that age on January. 1 next. It is-also provided that-.— ,1. Any person, of whom information ia required by any officer; or person,'in order to enable him. to ; comply .with'the provisions' of this Act relating to enlistment or enrolment, who refuses or neglects (without; just cause,. proof. whereof slialt lie upon him) to give such information, or : gives- false information, shall be liable to a penalty.not exceeding five pounds for each "item of information demanded and refused or neglected to be given ,or_ falsely given. 2. Anv person appointed' in behalf who (without iust cius;-, proo!* whereof' shall lie upon him), refuses "or neglects to- make any enrolment, or' to make or transmit, in tha prescribed manner any prescribed roll or return, c-r copy thereof, shall be to a penalty not. exceeding fifty nouiids. 3. Any person* who wilfuUy contravenes any provision of -,this" : Act. - ori-the.- regulations, • shall,; tfKeft a W dthei s '''fealty is provided,, be' liable to a penalty not exceeding .ten lounds for each* offence. ' ' . ■ Provision 1 is made -'in-' the regulations' for medical examination;- -and.-a special poster' has been nrepared .for. exhibition directing "allnersons registered and liableto - be' trained" Ito - present themselves for. inspection * and medical examination at some centre.- Physical tests-and measurements are set out.