CHECKING THE NATIONAL REGISTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2859, 25 August 1916, Page 6

CHECKING THE NATIONAL REGISTES

Sir, —I read with interest your leader in issue of this day in which you rightly point out the pains and penalties of men failing to enrol under the National Registration Act of 1915, or the Military Service Act of 1916. Now, there is one serious flaw in th© National Registration Act or 1915, and that is, that men who registered \indcr that Act had-no acknowledgment of their registration cards from the authorities. Now, it is quite possible that cards may have got lost in transit through the post, and also very probable that they may have got mislaid, or lost in the Statistician's Department, especially with the number of amateur clerks now employed; the onus of proof is on the individual. The Government unfairly legislate to presume every man guilty until he can prove himself innocent, and what can ho say.'any more than "I posted my registration card," or "I handed my registration card to the postman" ? Now, although a man charged may ho speaking the truth, I do not think any Magistrate would listen to such an excuse against the word of the military authorities. Therefore, I say there should be some way for every man who wishes it to get some acknowledgment from the authorities of the fact that he has registered.—l am, etc., .' ;. A FAIR THING. . [Thri point raised by our correspondent is one of some importance, and deserves the attention of. thi authorities.]