New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 16 September 1916, Page 5

New Zealand

THE CALL FOR MEN. SWEARING-IN RECR*UITS. AN IMFORTANT CHANCE. OATH BE TAKEN ON ENLISTMENT. The Hon. W. F. Massey (chairman of the Recruiting Board) telegraphs from Wellington to-day as follows: The Military Service Act places every man of military ago (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 Reserve, and into any ballot that may be taken to make good a district shortage. A man who wishes to escape the ballot can only do so by voluntarily enlisting, taking the oath of allegiance, and thus becoming a member of the Expeditionary Force. There is no other method by which lie can be taken out of the reserve. Section 53 of the Act gives the Goveruor-in-Council power to make regulations requiring the attestation in such form as may he prescribed. These regulations are being prepared, and it is proposed to bring them into force on Monday, 25th September, 191(3. On and after that date all recruits as they register will lie sworn in as members of the Expeditionary Force. The new attestation will be for general service only: each recruit, however, will bo allowed to express his preference for any i arm of the Service, and every consideration will be given to his preference, but no guarantee will he given that he will be transferred to •■uch arm. The foregoing applies to men who volunteer for service. On and after Monday, 25th September, the men who at that date are registered in the several group offices will be 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 bejtjstruck off the group office register, and will thus remain in the Reserve and will be liable to be called up for compulsory service in any ballot that may be taken to make good a shortage'.' On and after Monday, 25th September, the recruit will be paid the sum of five shillings pay for every day or part of a day occupied in travelling from his home to the 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 railway warrants will be provided in all cases where necessary. 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, or to other than the office at which he has been ordered to report for the purpose of being sworn ill. 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. WOUNDED SOLDIERS' FUND. The lion, secretary of the Stratford Patriotic Committee reports as follows : £ s. d. Previously Aknowledged 7678 610 W. P. Kirkwood (wheat) 1 5 0 Gift stock sale, per X.Z. Loan and M. Coy. ... 6 0 0 Stratford Gnu Club ... 5 0 0 £7690 11 10 THE CALL FOR MEN. STRATFORD'S RESPONSE. During the week, the following men enlisted at the Stratford office of the Defence Department : Douglas Davis, New Plymouth. \Y. L. Lacey, Stratford. W. J. Griffin, Toko. P. C. Simmons, Stratford. A. C. Bridges, Midhirst. P. Walsh, Whangamomona. P. M. Anderson, Midhirst. A. C. Gibb, Stratford. T. Davis, Whangamomona. C. G. Carter, Whangamomona. G. M Smith, Stratford. Of i!te above, eight were passed as iun'bciillv fit for the reinforcements.