REINFORCEMENT DRAFTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 7

REINFORCEMENT DRAFTS

The Recruiting Board, Wellington, has forwarded the following:— The Military Service Act places every man of military age (except members of the Expeditionary Force or men who have been discharged from that force because of disablement or ill-health after service beyond the seas) in the Reserve and into any oallnt tha.t may he taken, to make good a. district shortage. A man who wishes to escape the ballot can only do so by voluntarily enlisting, taking the 03th of allegiance, and thus becoming a member of the Expeditionary Force. There is_ no other method bv which he can be taken out of the Reserve. Section 53 of the Act gives the Governor in Council .power to make regulations requiring the attestation, in such form as may he prescribed. These regulations are bein<r prepared, and it is proposed to bring them into force on Monday. September 25th, 1916. On and after that- date all recruits as tbev register will be sworn in as members of the Expeditionary Force. The new attestation will be'for general service only. Each recruit, however, will be allowed to express his preference for any arm of the service, and every consideration will he given to his preference, but 110 guarantee will be given that he will be transferred to such arm. The foregoing applies to men who volunteer for service on and after Monday, September 25th. The men who at that date are registered in the several group offices will lx> given due notice to attend at a time and place which will be stated, in order to take the oath of allegiance. Any man who fails to attend" and swear in. will 'be struck off the group office register, and will thus remain in, the Reserve, and _will be liable to oe called ut> for compulsory service in any ballot that may be taken to make good a shortage on and after Monday, September 25th. The recruit will be paid the sum of 5s pay for every day or part of a clay occupied in travelling from his home to tlie nearest Defence Office or to the Defence Office at which he has 'been ordered to report for the purpose of being sworn in. In addition, accommodation and boat or railwav warrants will be provided in all case? where neccsary. A recruit will not receive accommodation, boat or railway warrants, or more than one day's pay of ss, if he goes out of his district, or to other than the nearest Defence 'Office for the purpose of being sworn in. He will be entitled to .pay as a soldier from the due date of his departure from his home to undergo his training at an Expeditionary Force camp. W. F. MASSEY. Chairman.