THE LAST DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 10

THE LAST DAY

<, ENROLMENT OF THE RESERVE EVERY MAN'S DUTY .The period allowed for the enrolment of tho Expeditionary Force Reserve will expire this evening. Most of tho men of military ago in Nov Zealand have already taken the necessary steps to . ascertain that their names are upon the roll, and secure their certificates of enrolment. But there are some laggards, and they will be doing their duty as well as consulting their own interests if they fill up and post their forms to-day. The blank forms can bo secured at any. post office, and any man in need of advice or assistance can obtain it from the (postal officials. It should be understood clearly that a plea of ignorance can avail no man in this matter. The Military Service Act imposes upon every man of military age in New Zealand the direct responsibility for seeing that his name is placed upon the roll of the Expeditionary Force Reserve. All men ovtatwenty years of age and under fortysix years of age are members of the Reserve, and failure to enrol within the prescribed period, which closes to-day, is au act of desertion. The certificates of enrolment have not yet been issued, but when the Government Statistician has completed that task, a week or xwo hence, the position of the man without a certificate will bo perilous. He will be liable to arrest at any time, and his punishment, if he is unable to prove himself innocent of an attempt at evasion, will be severe. The onus of proof will he on the defendant in all cases.

Some anxiety is being expressed by men who have sent in their forms and have not yet received any acknowledgment. The man who is sure that lie has filled up and posted the proper form may rest assured that lie will hear from the Government Statistician in duo course. Many thousands of cards of acknowledgment have been sent out already, and Iflie others will follow as rapidly as possible. The distribution of tho certificates of enrolment will begin next week. The man who does not receive a card of acknowledgment within the next four or five days had better fill up another form, but therb is no need to do that at once.