GENERAL RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 83, 4 October 1940, Page 6

GENERAL RESERVE

MINISTER'S WARNING

A FEW SLACKERS

The statement that the Government would have neither hesitation nor compunction in the enforcement of the penal clauses of the regulations requiring the registration of every eligible man in the First Division of the General Reserve was made by the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) last night. The obligation to register had been made known and the step had also been taken of checking registrations through private employers and by other means available to the Government, .he said. The third step was police inquiry and, where appropriate, prosecution, and this would shortly be undertaken to whatever extent proved to be necessary.

The Minister pointed out that First Division Reservists are men aged 19 to 45, both inclusive, who are either unmarried or childless widowers or divorcees. All such men were required to be registered in accordance with the provisions of the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940.

Unfortunately, said the Minister, there were a few slackers in the country and it was against them that the punitive clauses of the regulations were aimed.

It was specifically laid down in the regulations that every eligible man was a reservist whether he had registered or not. Failure to register rendered the offender liable to a fine of £100 or imprisonment for twelve months (or both fine and imprisonment), and, in addition he might, on conviction, be sent to camp immediately, without waiting for a ballot