New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 32, 5 September 1916, Page 3

New Zealand

ENROLMENT OF RESERVE. With a view to placing the position of Reservists in a plain and easily understood form, a representative of the Stratford E\ening Post sought out Lieutenant Gray, of the local oil ice of the Defence Department, yesterday, and put some questions to him. Lieutenant dray expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity ol clearing up many queries winch had been brought under his notice. Speaking generally, Lieutenant dray said: It is quite apparent, judging from the number of enquiries from the public that the proclamation just issued in regard to the Enrolment of the Expeditionary Force Ho serve does not appear at all clear to very many. In the first place, I should say Unit the National Register is the basis of the Expeditionary Force Reserve register. All men not already registered must supply enrolment card not later than Kith September., 1910, and it is absolutely necessary that men not already registered should do so at once. Quite recently twenty-seven names of men in a Tara uaki district wore discovered not on the National Register. No doubt

the*re arc a lot more living in the back country in the same position, wiLli probably, some in the towns. Candidly speaking, 1. should strongly advise them to see that their names are on the register. The nearest Tost Ollice, as the poster states, will give them cards and all the information and every assistance. Then, again, as regards the men already registered, the poster states that they need not supply an enrolment card, hut must, not later than IGth September, notify their present address if their place of

abode has been altered since the registration. The posters makes that :jnite clear. Men on reaching military age, or ou arriving in the Domin,,,j, must also make it their business ro supply enrolment cards within ourteen days thereafter. The Act uakea the reservists’ obligations '., -to, it, any of the above things.a' me, and he is n<>t relieved by inlormkdou previously given to the lice rilling Officer or Committee. These are lie obligations for reservists, and it is ds part of responsibility to help in To present struggle for right. Asked as to the special provisions or calling up of members of one an lily for the New Zealand Kxpedi,binary forces from time to Lime, men tenant Gray staid that since I lie

initiation of tlio now recruiting scheme, the attention of the Recruiting Board had been directed by the local recruiting committees through' out the Dominion to families in their districts with two or more sons of military age and not one of whom have enlisted. To deal with such cases, a section was inserted in the. Military Service Act, which empowers Lhe Minister of Defence to deal with sccii cases, and it is proposed to bring this section of the Act into operation at an early date, 'lhe lull names, ago, and addresses ol such men will ho required, and they must belong to die hirst Division of the reserve. JL should he stated also whether it is known that such men whose names are submitted are medically fit. What is the First Division, Lieu-

tenant ? Well, it consists of all reservists ~v ] io, on Lhe passing of the Act. come under the following category:— fa) unmarried men, or (l>) men married since Ist May, 1916, except such as have a elide under sixteen years ol age by a previous marriage. (e) widowers with no children under sixteen years of ago. (d) men whose marriage has been dissolved, or who are 'judicial!)’ separated from their wives >■ ho have no children under sixteen years of age. I understand, continued Lientemnt (frav, that the cases of men nnwdhng p, ~() v/ill he dealt with by a Heeinil iug Board from the recruiting comm'c tees. ‘•How about those who wore inrne ’ down a , unlit on their enlistment in the past y” asked the reporter. Lieutenant Dray: All timse should uotifv the Department if the/ are now lit. That will require annthei examination hy a medical, man, hni

it is the duly of all these men to too that there is Ho loophole for complaint in this respect. Another point, the Lieutenant continued, is in regard to married men in whose family there has been an increase since the date of registration. These men must inform the Depot tincut of the new arrival for the icason, simply, that the increase may put them in another class of reservists. Lieutenant (tray, who left Stratfo-d last evening on departmental ami in the hack country called at the “Post” office to stale Unit Urn position was made much clearer by’ the statement of the Chairman of the Re entiling Board in the telegram from Wellington. From this, it appears that there is urgent necessity lor every registered .man of eligible age to apply at the Post Cilice lor enrolment certificates, which should bo carried on. the person, being thus available for production to any inquiring policeman or person who might challenge hi* position. Those few remarks, concluded Lieutenant Cray, might assist our men to recognise Their responsibilities in the unfortunate circumstances evolved by this dreadful War, and if one only is benelitted by my remarks, my Lime has been well spent. The point is to impress upon all that they „ have a duty to perform to their King, Country, and Empire.

WHAT HAS TO Bk DONE. POINTS FURTHER EXPLAINED. Tlio Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) in an interview with a New Zealand Times’ representative on tlio position, said : point that seems to he giving some trouble, is that the man who is already registered does not seem to he very clear what he has to do. All reservists can bo divided into two classes—(l) those already registered, and (2) those not already registered, the men who have come into the coun - try since National Registration was compiled, or who, for various reasons, are not registered. Dealing with them in those two groups, this is what they should do:—

n-l&ch man already registered should (a) notify his change of address, if any, to me (Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, Wellington) ; and (b) apply to me for a certificate of enrolment. This applies to every man already enrolled. “ll.—Each man who is not already registered should (a) fill in and forward to me an enrolment card ; and (h) fill in and forward a form applying for ah enrolment certificate. “Each group, it will be seen, lias to do two tilings. The necessary forms for doing both things are provided at every post office throughout the Dominion.” CERTIFICATES FOR PROTECTION OF RESERVISTS.

“The certificates of entrolment,” added Mr Fascr, “are provided simply for the protection of the reservists themselves and of employers of labour. No penalty is incurred ’.f a man docs not apply for a certificate of enrolment, hut if he dies not possess such a certificate, 'he is liable to he stuck up by'a police constable and detained until he proves that ho is enrolled. Without a certificate of enrolment, he has no evidence that ho is registered. Employers of lauour are, of course, liable for heavy penalties under the Act if they employ men who are not enrolled. Employers, therefore, when once the certificate has been issued, should protect themselves by requiring every eligible man in their employment to produce his certificate of enrolment. These certificates will be provided as soon as practicable; but, ,in view of the great number that have to he dealt with, the preparing of them will necessarily take some time.

TEACHERS’ WAR BONUSES. Ter Press Association. Wellington, Septmnber 1vine to an impdry v. my the pavincut of war bouncer. to teacher: had boon delayed, the Minister, .Hon. i Hanan stated Unit luany oil licall points hart arisen. ’ these have now been decide 1. cud i.diical.i 1 i’.nnrds were (o-day notified to make mtm Moment* for the payment. The listrihntion of the war bonus ba.M keen approved as follows: To all ■mldie school teachers, including pupii Hits, probationers. training cnl- ■ , w indents, nul teachers employed , v !,. n v in manual Haveiim; hy KdncnBoards on a basis: of payment, will j,n for married men 'ahali melndc. i,l ( ,re;-' ami widows with children under M years of mmd Bib all others £7 10s, except, juveniles under !■ , (j . ~;ie. lo whom t.'-i will or pa; ,1,1,. In the case of married women whose husbands are engaged ni th Oovernment service no bonus will •vivafile otherwise they receive .1 IQs. One-half of the hmnis will la payable at once as for the period from April Ist to September 30th. Persons

employed for only part of that period are to be paid a proportionate amount. No payment is to he made if the remuneration. including payments for manual ami technical instruction, and married assistant’s allowance, hom‘-e allowance, or equivalent ol house allowance, if residence is provided, exceeds CTL'i per annum. The Minister said he was sorry that after obtaining the opinion of Uie t-kdiciUn-Ceocral lie found the war bonus cool.! net be paid to secondary School and technical school teachers. , MILITARY CLOTHING CONTRACT. CO NTH ACTOR FINED £SO. Wellington, September -1. Abraham Levy was convicted oi a wilful breach of a military contract, am! fined .CAO. The Crown Counsel said he intended to proceed with other ceases which have been adjourned for a week. Notice of appeal was given. THE MARAMA’S CONTINGENT. Wellington, September 1. The Cnvcruor ha* received a telegram to Ilie ofleet that the hospital ship Mamma, left the United Kingdom on August 21. carrying Australians 10 officers and 021 men; New ’/lealanders 15 officers and 110 men : Son th Africans, 2 men. The vessel is due to arrive in New Zealand about October L’Olh.