New zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 100, 3 April 1916, Page 6

New zealand

THE NATIONAL REGISTER, A WORK OF NECESSITY. HELPING THE SHIRKER. PEB PttESS AssiiniATTON. Wellington, April, 3. Interviewed last night, the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence), in reference to the perfecting of the rolls of the National Register, said that not only was a personal effort of the citizens needed, but the Rolls would have to be completed. As regards the National Register, under the Board's scheme, they would add the names of those who had transferred according to their movements, the result would be to place a census of all eligibles in the hands of the Government, that would enable it thoroughly to test the voluntary system, or bring in compulsion, if required. No scheme could be brought in without the perfect knowledge of all eligible men. If they did not carry out the personal canvass and so perfect the Rolls, they were simply assisting the shirker to shirk'by their personal neglect. The statement recently issued to the effect that no officer was, to be appointed to a commission unless he had held it previously for twelve months did-not refer to the N.C.O.'s camp, but only to Territorial officers. There were two ways to get a commission, by having had twelve months previous experience, or enlisting and going into camp with the N.CO.'s. With regard to returned soldiers and commissions, Mr Allen said that six returned men would be appointed every month, but they must be in camp and medically fit.