ENROLMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1916, Page 8

ENROLMENT.

COME POINTS ELUCIDATED. Wellington, September A It is evident from the numerous enquiries that ai'c reaching the office of the Recruiting Board that a great number of men of military age are not at all clear as to their position iu connection with the enrolment of the Expeditionary Force Reserve under the Military Service Act. In particular, the importance of applying for a certificate of enrolment does not appear to be appreciated as it should be. The Act makes the national register the basis of the Expeditionary l'orce Reserve, and only direct men who have not registered under the national Registration Act to forward an enrolment card under the Military Service Act of the Government Statistician. The point, however, has been raised by many men who duly forwarded"'their personal schedule under the National Registration Act that they received no acknowledgment from the Government Statistician and therefore have no guarantee that they are enrolled. This lias caused recruiting committees throughout the Dominion to publicly display the local rolls 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 the Board wishes to emphasise the fact that the absence of a name does not necessarily mean that a man is not registered and that the surest and best method to verify registration is for every man whether he belongs to the first division or to the second division of the Reserve to forward an application for a certificate of enrolment on the form that is obtained at any and every post office. If his personal schedule failed to reach the Government Statistician, and his name does not appear on the national register, ho will be promptly advised to that effect, and asked to fill in an enrolment card under the Military Service Act. A man who sent in his schedule and now finds that his name does qot appear on the local rolls for liis district should not forward another card until lie is advised by the Government Stutistician, on receipt of his application for a certificate of enrolment, that is necessary to do so. Otherwise there is always a danger that his name may appear twice on the roll of the Reserve, and thus double liis chance in the baliot. It is necessary for men who forward an enrolment card to apply at the same time for a certificate of enrolment, although the Act imposes 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 liis own protection have one always in his possession. This certificate is proof of enrolment, and is the only method by which an employee can be satisfied that the men of military a»e in 'liis or her employ are enrolled in the Reserve. On this point every employer must be satisfied or risk the heavy penalties imposed 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 should therefore be obvious, JV. F. MASSEY, * Chairman.