SECOND DIVISION RESERVISTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1750, 8 November 1917, Page 3

SECOND DIVISION RESERVISTS.

STATEMENT BY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN.

Wellington, Nov. 7. With reference to the inclusion

of a number of Second Division Reservists with children in yesterday's Gazette, the Government Statistician explains that this is due to the failure of the reservists to notify him of the status of their dependents, Many reservists under’ national registration notified the number of their dependents without station or relationship. The classification of the Second Division being according to the number of ehildren only, the Statistician, wherever possible, notified reservists of cases in which he was in doubt, and 5,000 men, in consequence of their replies, were lifted out of Class A to later classes. Some men, however, did not reply or had moved without notifying their change of address, though bound to do so. Being directed by the Military Service Act to place men in whose cases he was in doubt in the earliest class, the Statistician accordingly left such men in Class A and they were drawn in common with others. The fault was their own for not stating the relationship of their dependents clearly. The Statistician also stressed that under the War Regulations, Second Division Reservists are obliged to notify within ten days of an increase or decrease by death in their families, in order that they may be placed in their proper class. This applies to children only. Those failing to notify the Statistician within the prescribed time are liable to a fine of £IOO or twelve months’ imprisonment.