NATIONAL REGISTER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2742, 10 April 1916, Page 6

NATIONAL REGISTER

DISCOVERING DEFAULTERS

RECRUITING BOARD SCHEME

"One of the objects of. the Recruiting Board in providing the lists that have been scnt-out to -tlic various local committees," said 'the Hon. G. AV. Russoll, Minister of Internal Affairs, to a, reporter on Saturday, ''is that they should act as a chuck on the National Register. The lists/sent out by the board are the men of military age, and it is anticipated that the elfect of local action will bo to assist the Internal Alfairs Department in completing the register. The total number of. names sent in for the register, which included all men between the'ages of 17 and 60, was 303,000; and the .Government Statistician, who has reported to mo on the subject, is of opinion that the evaders cannot.be very great in,number in proportion to those dealt with—probably between 2 and 3 per cent, of the registrations. . "Recruiting Committees . have been asked to undertake the work of personal canvass, having before them two objects —to secure the man and to complete the register. lists obtained by these committees* will, on receipt, bo placed at the disposal of the Government Statistician, who will-check'them against the register, and steps will bo taken under the National Registration Act to prosecute all those who havo neglected or refused to fulfil their obligations by registering. Under Section 2 of the Act, any person who wilfully fails to furnish the particulars required, or wilfully makes any false statement'with respect to such particulars, is liable to a fine of not less than £5 and not exceeding £100, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months. So soon as the lists have been finally checked, and the names of the ascertained, proceedings will be taken, and the Department is now preparing for this. "From all over New Zealand,'' added Mr. Russell, "the Department has tcceived assistance from vi.-luntary advisers, who have sent in lists of names. These are being carefully checked by the Department, and the lists «.f defaulters to hand -will be ready m a. few days."