THE WAR CENSUS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1915, Page 6

THE WAR CENSUS.

PERSONAL OBJECTIONS. HEAVY PENALTIES. Under the National Registration Act passed during the session just ended, every male resident in the Dominion is required to furnish to the Government Statistician at Wellipgtjn, a personal schedule setting out Jull particulars as to his age, nationality, occupation, dependents, etc., and also stating whether he in willing io become a member of an Expeditoinary Force in connection with the present war, or not. Iji the case of single men without dependents, this] must be answered yea or nay, but for single men with dependents, married men and widowers with dependents, the ques- j tion is qualified with words "if required." By notice in our advertising columns, the schedules, which are obtainable at any' Post Office in the Dominion, must be furnished not later than Tuesday, November 9th. The schedule, on being cciorteted, is to be placed in the addressed invo-ope provided, and handed to an officer of the Post and Telegraph Department, or posted direct to the Government. Statistician, at Wellington. The particulars are strictly confidential under the Act, and an addressed envelope is provided in each case to ensure this being observed. "i he Act imposes penalties up lo £IOO cv imprisonment up to six months on an;.- puson who fails to furnish the par-t'-eubrs required, or who makes a false statement. It should also be noted tliat the nbi'gntion to register is a personal one, and the fact that a form has not been addressed to or received by any person does not absolve him from responsibility to register. Any person who refuses, fails or neglects to' register will be prosecuted.

For the convenience of the public, the offices of Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, in the four chief centres will be open continuously from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the registration period (245 th October to9thNovember, 1915),f0r the purpose of affording assistance In the filling up of the schedules to any persons desiring it, It has also been arranged that postal officers at post offices throughout the Dominion during ordinary office hours will also on application help any persons desirous of assistance in filling up the schedules. The object of the registration is to ascertain the resources of the Dominion in men. The register to be compiled is purely a civil register, and the furnishing of the schedule required under the Act does not involve enlistment, nor is it in substitution for the present system of enlistment. Those desirous of enlisting can obtain enlistments forms at the nearest Post Office or Defence Office. The need for ascertaining the resources of the Dominion at the present time is extremely urgent and every person liable to register should do so at once.