THE COMPULSION SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1916, Page 2

THE COMPULSION SCHEME.

ROLLS IN 'PREPARATION TI!E "TEMPORARY UNFITS." (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, August 16. The creation of the First and Second Divisions of the Expeditionary Force Reserve will be proclaimed within the next fortnight, as. mentioned by the Minister for Defence in Dunedin, and the Defence Department will proceed then with the work of enrolment, the basis, being the National Register. The value of the Register for this purpose will vary in the districts according to the amount of work done already by the recruiting committees. The personal canvass desired by the Recruiting Board has been carried out thoroughly in some parts of the country, and there the Registei, as amended by the committees, may be regarded as a very accurate; record of the men o£ military age still available for service. Other committees have neglected this work.'and the Register lias remained unchecked.

The aim of the Deprytment will bo to iprepare rolls as nearly complete as possible, and obviously this work will take time. The -two divisions of the Reserve are to contain every man of military age who has not yet worn khaki.and has not been rejected as medically unfit. Lunatics and criminals naturally are not. included. The men have to be classified according to their domestic status and the number of their dependants, and opportunity will have to be allowed for the inevitable appeals after the classification lias been announced, Fortunately the Defence Department is not likely to require the machinery of the Act for some months yet, so there will be time to get the wheels in motion.

A question litis been asked regarding the position of the man who has volunteered for service and has been rejected as temporarily unfit on account of some ■physical defect or weakness that probably could be removed by treatment or operation. Many , thousands of men suffering from varicose veins, varicocele, hernia, decayed teeth and other troubles fall in this category, and some of them appear to have an idea that they will be exempt. This is not the case. They will be enrolled in the ordinary way, and though they cannot be required to make themselves fit for service, the Act providt'u that they may nc.t refuse treatment by the State. If a man classed as "temporarily unfit" is summoned for training under the compulsory clauses, the Defence authorities will decide whether or not he shall be rendered lit at the pyiilic exoense.