IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 5 September 1916, Page 4

IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

TO MEN OF MILITARY AGE >

WELLINGTON, September 4. I It :s evident from the numerous, enl juiries that are reaching the office* ol the Recruiting Board that a great nunil ber of men of military age are not a| all clear as to their positions in coni nection with the enrolment of the Ex] peditiouary Force under thq Military Service Act, in particular,, thJ importance of applying fora certificate of enrolment does not appear to be appreciated as it should be. The Aei makes the National Register the basis of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, and only directs men who have not registered under the National Registration Act to forward in enrolment cards under the Militrav Service Act to the

Government Statistician. The point,® however, has been raised by many men® who duly forwarded their personal® schedule under the National Registra-H tion Act, that they received no acknowledgment from the Government Statistician, and therefore have no guarantee that they are enrolled. This has caused Recruiting Committees throughout the Dominion to publicly display the local roll issued in connection with the Board’s recruiting scheme, so that men of military age may inspect them and ascertain if they are registered. But th e Board wishes to emphas*e tho fact that the absence of a name does not necessarily moan that a man is not registered, and that th e surest and best method to verify registration is for every man, whether he belongs to thefirst division or to the second division of the reserve, to forward an application for a certificate of enrolment on the form that is obtainable at any and every post office. If his personal schedule failed to reach the Govenrrment Statistician, and his name does not appear on the National Register! he will b e promptly advised to that effect, and asked to fill in an enrolmentcard 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 has been advised by the Government Statistician on receipt of his application for a certificate of enrolment that it is neccs- ' sary to do so. Otherwise there is al- ' ways 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 enrolment. Although the ’Act imposed 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 always in his possessing This certificate is proof of enrolment, and is th e only method by which am employer can be satisfied that the vmn of military age in his or her employ are enrolled in the Reserve. On this point every employer must be satisfied or risk the heavy penalties iihposed 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 I should therefore be obvious. ‘ W. F. MASSEY, i Chairman.