FIRST DIVISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 6

FIRST DIVISION

EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES REGISTRATION OF EMPLOYEES. NEED FOR -CHECKING UP. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. "While I must pay a tribute to the great majority of employers throughout the Dominion for the manner in which they have checked up on the registration of their employees,” said Mr Semple (Minister of National Service) today "from time to time cases come under notice which make it obvious that some are not fully aware or are careless of their responsibilities in the matter. Such cases generally are those where there are but a small number of workers, particularly if they are of the casual type. “The position is, of course, that any person who employs or retains in his employment for more than seven days any reservist of an enrolled class who has not duly enrolled therein ‘is guilty, equally with the reservist, of an offence against the regulations and is liable to severe penalties, including imprisonment. It is realised that in some instances the employer may be misled by the employee’s incorrect statement that he married before May 1, 1940, or by some other plausible claim to b| a member o'f the'Second Division but the employer is not exonerated from responsibility unless he takes reasonable steps to satisfy himself that the facts are as stated. This difficulty will no longer exist when the enrolment of the Second Division is undertaken, since after that has taken place practically every man, aged nineteen to forty-five inclusive, must be in possession of a certificate of enrolment. The only exceptions worthy of note are Maoris, aliens, naturalised British subjects, men who have been declared to be permanently unfit for service or who have been discharged from the forces as unfit after overseas service and conscientious objectors, whose appeals against service have been allowed. All employers should, for their own protection, call upon their employees to either produce their certificate of enrolment in the First Division or else give a reasonable explanation of their claim to be in the Second or Third Division. Any doubtful cases should immediately, be reported to the . Director of National Service.” I