NATIONAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 31, 31 October 1942, Page 6

NATIONAL WORK

Obligation On Employers And Employees

LIABILITY TO REGISTER

The obligation now placed on all employers to see that employees liable to register- for work of national importance have done so was emphasized yesterday by the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr. McLagan. He said that an employer must report to the district manpower officer any cases of failure to register. “Steps will be taken shortly to carry out a widespread check-up on registrations, witli a view to taking action against defaulters, and employers should see that all persons in their employ eligible to register for work of national importance are able to produce the official slip acknowledging registration,” said Mr. McLagan. “If the slip has been lost the district manpower officer will 'be able .to confirm whether registration has been effected.” The classes of persons who should now be registered are as follows : — Males (including aliens) from IS to 70 years inclusive, who have in the past 15 years had 12 months or more experience in- building and construction work (including labourers) or in skilled engineering and metal trades (but not including motor mechanics). Males (including aliens) from 18 to Go years inclusive, who have iu the past lo years had 12 months or more experience in timber-felling, timber-splitting , fire-wood-cutting, or the transport of logs. All males (including aliens) from 46 to 59 years inclusive. All females (including aliens) from 20 to 30 years inclusive. All male aliens from 18 to 45 years inclusive. Exempted Classes. “Under all current registration orders there are exemptions for persons rendering full-time service in the armed forces, persons in receipt of invalid or war pensions, persons serving in merchant ships, inmates of hospitals, asylums and prisons, and full-time employees of reistered hospitals,” said the Minister. “In addition, persons already registered for work of national importance are exempt from subsequent registration for the same purpose, but it must be clearly understood that registration fo.r other forms of national service (such as military service, including Home Guard or E.P.S.) do not give any exemption from the requirements to register separately for work of national importance on the special registration form provided.” “Under some of the orders there have been further exemptions from the liability to register. Women 24 to 30 years are not required to register if they are married women with children of their own to care for. Women aged 20 and 21 years and men aged 46 to 59 years inclusive are not required to register so long as they are employed in the following occupations: —Police, firemen (full time), farming, mining or oil-prospecting, railways, gas or electricity production and supply t doctors, dentists, dentul mechaiiics, pharmacists, dispensers, opticians, optical median ics, judges, magistrates, members of the General Assembly and officiating ministers. “Apart from those specifically exempted, everyone within the ages called up should now have registered. Anyone who has not done so (and we already hold lists of some such people) should do so immediately. If any persons have failed to register by November 7 there will be no option but to institute proceedings .against them for an offence in failing to register, and against any employer concerned for an offence in failing to report defaulting employees.”