Enrolment of Reserves.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 4 September 1916, Page 6

Enrolment of Reserves.

POINTS WORTH KNOWING. MEN, DO YOUR DUTY! The Hon. W. F. Massey (chairman of the Recruiting* Board) wires as fellows from. Wellington this afternoon : It is evident from the numerous enquiries that are reaching the office o." the Recruiting Board that a great, number of men of military age are not at all clear a's to their position in connection with the enrolment o the Expeditionary Force Reserve in, der the Military Service Act. In particular, the importance of applying for a certificate of* enrolment does not appear to be appreciated as it should be. The act makes the National R'i gister the basis of the Expeditionary Force reserve, and only directs the men who have not registered under the National Registration Act to forward an enrolment card , under tin Military Service Act to the Government Statistician. The point, however, has been raised by many men who have duly forwarded their personal schedule under the National Registration Act that they received no acknowledgment from the Government Statistician, and, therefore, have no guarantee that they are e rolled. This has caused the recruiting committees throughout the D< minion to publicly display the loca' rolls issued in connection with the Board's recruiting scheme, so that

men of military a<je may inspect them, and ascertain if they are registered. But the Board wishes to emphasise the fact that the absence of a name does not necessarily mean that a man is not registered, and that the surest and best method to verify registration is for every man whether lie belongs to the first division or to the second division of the reserve to forward an application for a certilicato of enrolment on the form that is obtainable at any and every post office. If his personal schedule failed to reach the Government Statistician, ami his name does not. appear on the National Register, he will lie promptly advised to that effect and asked to !il! in an enrolment card under the -Military Service Act. A man who sent in his schedule and now finds that his name does not appear on the local roll for his district should not forward another card until he is advised by the Government Statistician on receipt of his application for a certificate of enrolment that it is necessary to do so. otherwise there is always a danger that his name may appear twice on the roll of the reserve, and thus double his chance in the ballot It is necessary for men who forward an enrolment card to apply at the same time for a certificate of enrol-

nieiit. Although the Act imposes no duty with respect to these certificates of enrolment, it is absolutely imperative that each reservist, whether of the first or second division, should, for his own protection, have one always in In's possession. This certificate is proof of enrolment, and is the only method by which an employer can be satisfied that the men of military age in his or her employ are enrolled in the reserve. On this point, every employer must be satisfied, or else run the risk of heavy penalties being imposed. By the Act, the production of the certificate will also satisfy any constable who accosts a man who may reasonably be supposed to be of military age. The value of the certificate of enrolment should therefore be obvious.