MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1916, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE.

OPERATIONS OF THE ACT. ENROLMENT BEGINNING OP. . SEPTEMBER. NO ESCAPE FROM REGISTRATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, August 19. The Military Service Act provides for both civil and military processes, and in the circumstances Cabinet has deemed it desirable, that there should be a uniform controlling authority. The administration of the Act, therefore, so far as concerns all matters in respect to which the statute does not give a specific direction, has been placed under the control of the Recruiting- Board. I have now to announce that it has been decided to proclaim the enrolment of the first division of the Expeditionary Force reserve on .Friday, September i, lfllG, and of the second division 011 the day following, namely Saturday, September 2, 11)10, In the case of each division a period of fourteen days thereafter is allowed by the Act to all men of military age (not less than 20 and under 40 years of age), who have not registered under the National Registration Act to enrol under the Military Service Act, or to men who have changed their place of abode since registration, to notify their new address. j

It has been found necessary lo proclaim the enrolment of both divisions of the reserve simultaneously in order to protect the men in the second division. The Aet empowers any constable after the enrolment of the first division has been proclaimed to question any man who may reasonably be supposed to be of military age and to detain him if he is not satisfied with his answers. The Act also forbids any employer to employ a reservist who is not, enrolled.

For the protection of reservists, certificate of enrolment will be issued on application to every man wiio is enrolled, and the production of this certificate will be a sufficient answer to any constable and also sufficient proof to any employer or. enrolment, but this certificate cannot be issued to a man who belongs to the second division until the enrolment of that division is proclaimed. Hence the necessity to proclaim both divisions so that every man of military age may receive this evidence of his enrolment.

It should be distinctly understood that while the compulsory provisions of the Act will not be applied to the second division of the reserve until the first division is exhausted, that fact does not relieve any man of military age in either division of his obligation with respect to enrolment or notifying any change of address

The first division consists of reservists who are unmarried men or married men whose marriage took place since May 1, 101f), unless they have a child under 10 years of age by a previous marriage, or widowers with no children under IG, or men who are divorced or 'judicially separated from their wives, and who have no children under 10 years of age. The second division consists of all other reservists during this enrolment period.

The widest publicity will be given to the obligations imposed by the Act on reservists and employers by means of advertisements in all newspapers and by posters, placards and lantern slides conspicuously displayed from cud to end of the Dominion. The display of these posters, placards and slides will be made compulsory as a war necessity by regulations to be issued under the War Regu-lation-Act. The Board also intends to issue a. statement clearly setting forth the provisions of the Act with respect to the duties of reservists an:l of employers, and the penalties they will incur if thev neglect or refuse to discharge these duties.

Every man of military age should make it his particular business to carefully read this statement as well as the advertisements or posters and placards which will appear 011 Friday, September 1 next, and subsequently during the enrolment. period. The. .Act. has two main functions—(a) the enrolment of the reserve; and (b) the calling up of the reserve. It is proposed to enrol the reserve, within the period stated, but there will be no calling up under the Act so long as voluntary recruiting produces the number or men required sor each reinforcement draf* W. F. MASSEY, Chairman.