SWEARING IN RECRUITS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1916, Page 3

SWEARING IN RECRUITS.

I AN IMPORTANT CHANGE. . OATH TO BE TAKEN ON ENLISTMENT. | , By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' ', Wellington, September 10. The Military Service Act places every ! man of military age (except members of the Expeditionary Force or men who have been discharged from that Force because of disablement or illhealth after service beyond the seas) in the Reserve, and into any ballot that may be taken 1 to make good a district shortage. A 1 man who wishes to escape the ballot ' can only do so by voluntarily enlisting, taking the oath of allegiance, and thus becoming a member of the Expeditionary Force. There is no other method by which he can be taken out. of the Reserve. Section 53 of the Act gives the fio-j'vrnor-in-Council power to make regulations requiring the attestation in such , fcrm as may be prescribed. These regular or.s are being prepared, and it is 1 proposed to bring them into force on ' Monday, September 25, 1010. On and - after that date all recruits as they regis. ' ter will be sworn in as members of the 1 I Expeditionary Force.' The new attesta- . tion will be for general service only. - Each recruit, however, will be allowed to express his preference for any arm - of the service, and every consideration t .will be given to his preference, but no 3 guarantee will be given that he will bo transferred to such arm. The foregoing applies to men who volun.- - tcer for service on and after Monday, ■- September 25. The men who at that date are registered in the several group ft offices will be given due notice to ato tend at a time and place which will be stated, in order to take the oath of alleo giance. Any man who fails to attend rl and swear in will be struck off the group office register, and will thus reo main in the Reserve and will he liable to be called up for compulsory service in s any ballot that may be taken to make good a shortage. Is On and after Monday, September 25, the recruit will be paid the sum of five d shillings for every day or part of a day occupied in trailing from his home to the nearest Defence Oflve, or x to the Defence Office at which he has been ordered to report for tha purpose is of being sworn in. In addition accommodation and boat is or railway warrants will be provided in all cases where necessary. A recruit 9. will not receive accommodation, boat s, or railway warrants, or more than one day's pay of ss, if he goes out of his district or to other than the nearest defence office, or to other than the office. at which he has been ordered to report for the purpose of being sworn in. Ho ?" will be entitled to pay as a soldier from the due date of his departure from his . home to undergo his training at an EvI peditionary Force camp.