The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1916. THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 24, 26 August 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1916. THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

The Military Service Act. passed at the' end qf last session of the New Zealand Parliament was placed on Statute Book as a precaution against the failure of a the voluntary system of enlistment of bringing forward the number of men requisite for New Zealand's reinforcements. Our Government is pledged to the Imperial Government to keep our contingents at the front up to full strength, and in addition to send forward fresh reinforcements regularly until the Hun' forces are broken. The country is with the Government in its determination to fulfil tlie promise made, so that New Zealand may do her, share in helping to win thenar. Under the voluntary system we hare done well, but it has long been con-

ceded that the system has not worked fairly because it lias allowed the shirker to escape a very obvious duty, but the regulations now drawn up under the new Act will obviate that to some extent, at least. The enrolment of the .Reserve is the first step, 1 and it is supplementary to the National Register of last year. Once, however, the enrolment is gazetted the Military Service Act, in its entirety, can l)o brought into operation.' When the enrolment of the First Division is authorised, the Governor may at any ,time order the enrol-1 mont of the Second Division, and this provision may be utilised, apparently, to secure practically the simultaneous enrolment of both divisions. At any time after enrolment of the two divisions the Minister of Defence may call up from either division any number of men he thinks necessary, 'the powers under the Act are very wide and as it was never intended that the measure should he a dead letter, foung men who are eligible and who have no honest and reasonable excuse for avoiding enlistment, should promptly volunteer for sera ice. i