HOME SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1917, Page 7

HOME SERVICE.

NEW REGULATIONS ISSUED. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WITHIN NEW ZEALiAND. The position of men who are passed as fit for home service only is defined by regulations issued yesterday under the Military Service Act. The regulaj tions provide for the establishment of a homo service branch of the Expeditionary Force and make it clear that reservists posted to this branch may be employed on duties connected with the war within the Dominion. The form of organisation to be adopted for home service units is defined.

Recruits called lip for military service, and also those attested as volunteers, are to foe attested into the JExpeditionary Force for general service, and are to be posted in the following manner:

(a) All reservists ■ 1 recruits who are certified by the J' 1 Boards to be "fit for axstive sen beyond the seas" (category A, B1 and B2) shall be posted to the foreign service branch. (b) All reservists and recruits who are certified by the Medical Boards to be "permanently unfit for active service beyond the seas" but "fit for service in New Zealand in connection with or for the purposes of the present war (categories CI and 02) shall be posted to the home service branch.

The regulations provide for the transfer of recruits and reservists from one branch to the other in cases where a later medical examination justifies this course, A home service man who is found at a second or subsequent examination to be fit for active service may be transferred to the foreign service branch and put into training. Soldiers of the home service branch who are not immediately required are to be granted leave without pay. Until the Minister for Defence shall otherwise direct, soldiers of the 'home service branch -who are required for actual service will be called up from those only who volunteer for such actual home service. They will serve under the same conditions sj soldiers of the foreign service bTaneli. The regulations make it clear home service men are at the disposal of the military authorities. They must mobilise at their Group Headquarters or other specified •centre when ordered to do so by proclamatiqn or posted orders. Their "war organisation and establishment will be improvised to meet any situation that may arise." The home service uniform and badges will be "as laid down for foreign service, excepting puggarees, which will be of kliaki with a centre fold of black." Men appointed to offices for which there is no unit, such as General Headquarters, District Headquarters, Recruiting, Base Records, and War Expenses, -will wear the titles and badges of the NZ.A.S.O. The regulations mention that soldiers of the home service branch employed on home service will be organisd in sections of irregular strength, with such establishment as may be determined by the commandant from time to time. Dis-, tinscuishing ipatches for various branches of the service will be worn on the lefthand side of the pnggarees.