RESERVISTS' DUTIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3069, 3 May 1917, Page 6

RESERVISTS' DUTIES

PRODUCTION OF CERTIFICATES

The approach of the time when nonpossession of a military discharge 1 ; a ieave-pass, or a certificate of enrolment in the Expeditionary Eorcc Reserve may involve a man, of military age in serious difficulties makes it important that reservists should understand their obligations clearly.. The facts have been stated very often, but the questions that are propounded'by reservists indicate that, a certain amount of misunderstanding exists still.

It relates chiefly to the position of men who have been rejected as medically unfit.

Every man of military age who is not a soldier, a discharged soldier (with service beyond New Zealand) or a discharged reservist, is a member of the Reserve, and should be m possession of some documentary evidence showing his status under the Military Service Act. He may be required by the police or authorised military officers to produce this evidence at any time, and failure to do so renders him liable to arrest, pending inquiry. A reservist .who does not possess either a certificate of enrolment or a 'eave-pass should take steps to put himself right at once. ( < ■ ■ A man who has volunteered and has been rejected is still a. member of the Reserve. He should have his certificate of enrolment. A man who has volunteered during recent months, or has been picked up in the ballot and then rejected on medical grounds, may have been transferred to the Home Service section and given a leave nasfi. If so, the pass is sufficient evidence of his status. A returned discharged soldier is not a member of the Reserve, but he may be required to show his discharge in order to prove his bona fides. A man who has been discharged from the training camps, before leaving New Zealand, is a Reservist. He is liable to be called up by ballot and he should possess a certificate of enrolment.

If a man has' been chosen bv ballot and has theii appealed and had his-ap-peal allowed by a Military Service Board, he falls back into the Reserve, unless ho has shown that he is not a Reservist at all. He may lie called up again in a later ballot and requires a certificate. If an appeal has been adjourned by the board, then the man concerned is in suspense. He is not subject to the chances of the ballot, but he should he able to show a certificate when required.

The only, man of military age, other than a returned discharged soldier, who is_ not a Reservist, a soldier in training or a soldier on leave (as in the Home Service section) is cue who has been discharged from the Reserve on the report of a Medical Board that he is mentally, or physically incapable of rendering service of any kind at all in the war. Extreme incapacity has to be shown in these cases, and the person concerned should possess a formal discharge.

The certificates of enrolment and I leave passes issued at the present- time are printed on thin paper, and it_ is obvious that- they will wear if carried continuously in ibe pockets 'if l'eservists, especially if the men do not use pocket-books. This point is under cnisideration and it is likely 'hat certificates and passes in a more durable form will be issued. But in the meantime the original documents shruld he carried by the T?eservist who -visiles to be nreparod for. all eventualities. The extent of the liability faced by eacli man is stated__ clearly on the l ack of tlie certificates of enrolment,: "Alter the enrolment of the First Pivisjon , . . any constable mav question any man who mav reasonably bo supposed to ho oL notary age as to any or all of the following matters, namely, his name, occupation and /oorle, the 'date and place of his birth, his eniolmenfc in the Reserve, and any r.ther matters relevant to the queiT'Hi r.f his membership of the 'Reserve or his Tiifmbcrship of the Expeditionary Force. Anv man who fails.or refuses to rnswer forthwith any question so put to him, or who answers anv such question in a false or misleading mannor, shall be guilty of an offence punish ible m summary conviction by imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, or b.v a line not more limn fifty pounds. and an" man reasninbiv suspect-Mi of such ofl'euce liat-lit; detained by -iuv constable md Viei:<:hl Wore a' Justice - of - tlu Pence to be dealt with accordinc to lay,'."