COMPULSORY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 10

COMPULSORY SERVICE

ENROLMENT OF THE RESERVE TO BE PROCLAIMED FORTHWITH RESPONSIBILITIES OF HEN STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY A very important statement was issued yesterday by tho chairman of tho Recruiting Hoard (the Right Hon. W. IF. Massoy). it makes two amendments of groat moment —that tho enrolment of tho two divisions of the Reserve is to bo proclaimed almost immediately, and that the administration of tlio Military Service Act will l;e controlled by the Recruiting Board. Following is the text of the statement: — "The Military Service Act' provides for both civil and military processes, and in the circumstances Cabinet has deemed it desirable that there should be a uniform controlling authority. Tho administration of tlio Act, therefore, so far as concerns all matters in respect to which the statute does not give a specific direction, lias been placed under the control of the Recruiting Hoard. "I have now to announce that it has been decided to proclaim the enrolment of the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve on Friday, September 1, 191G, and' of the Second Division on the day following, namely, Saturday, September 2, 1916. In the caso of each division a period of fourteen days thereafter is allowed by the Act to all men of military age (not less than 20 and under 46 years of age), who have not registered under the National Registration Act, to enrol under the Military Servico Act, or to men who have changed their place of abode since registration, to notify their new address. Reasons for the Step. "It has been found necessary to proclaim the enrolment of both divisions of the reserve simultaneously in order to protect the men in '•die Second Division. The .Act empowers any constable, after the enrolment of the First Division has been proclaimed, to' question any man who may reasonably be supposed to bo of military age, and to detain him if he i.s not satisfied with his answers. The Act also forbids any emfAyer to employ a reservist who is not enrolled. For the protection of Reservists, certificates of enrolment will he issued on application to every man who is enrolled, and the production of this certificate will be a sufficient answer to any constable and a sufficient proof to any employer of enrolment. • But this certificate cannot he issued to a man who belongs to t.je Second Division until the enrolment of that division is proclaimed. Hence the necessity to proclaim both divisions, so that every man of military age may receive this evidence of his enrolment. What the Act Enlolns. "It should be distinctly understood that while the compulsory provisions of the Act will not be applied to the Second Division of the Reserve until the First Division is exhausted, that fact does not relieve any man of military age in either division of his obligation with respect to enrolment or notifying any change of address. The First Division consists of Reservists who are ■unmarried men or married men whoso marriago took place since May 1, 1915, unless they have a child under 10 years of ago by a previous marriage, or widowers with no children under 16, or nien who are divorced or judicially separated from their wives and who have no children under 16 years of ago; and the Second Division consists of all other Reservists. Making it Known. "During this enrolment period the widest publicity will be given to the obligations imposed by the Act on Reservists and employers by means of advertisements in all nowspapers, and by posters, placards, and lantern slides conspicuously displayed from end to end of tlie Dominion. The display of these pasters, placards, and slides will be made compulsory as a war necessity by regulations to lie issued under the War Regulations Act. The board also intends to issue a statement clearly sotting forth tho provisions of the Act with respect to tlio duties of Reservists and of employers, and the penalties they will incur if they neglect or refuse to discharge these duties. Every man of military ago should make it his particular business to carefully read this statement as well as the advertisements or posters and placards which will appear on Friday, September 1, next, and subsequently during the enrolment period. Intention of the Government. "The Act has two main functions: (a) The enrolment of the Reserve, and (b) the calling up of the Reserve. It is proposed to enrol the Reserve within tho period stated, but there will bo no calling up under the Act so long as voluntary recruiting produces the number of men required for each reinforcement draft. (Sgd.) W. F. MASSEY, Chairman."