MILITARY SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1942, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE

MEN NOT REGISTERED CHECK OF STAFFS URGED. WARNING TO EMPLOYERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.. A warning to employers of their obligations under the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940, to ensure that their employees were, registered for military service, was issued last evening by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple. He said that cases were still coming under notice where employers were not fulfilling these obligations.

“Now that married men are being called up for Territorial service,” said the Minister, “it is absolutely imperative that all eligible reservists,, that is to say, natural-born British subjects both married and single between the ages of 18 and 46 years, should be registered under the regulations. Every man registered should be in possession of a certificate of- enrolment, and no employer should employ or continue to employ any man in that age group who cannot produce his certificate. In certain cases such as aliens, Maoris of half blood or more, men attested for overseas service with the armed forces and men returned from overseas service, they are not required to hold a certificate as they are not required to register. However, most of these men should be able to produce some form of evidence giving reasons for their non-production of a certificate. “Some time ago I requested all employers to check up on their staffs to ensure that all men coming within the scope of the Regulations have registered. I now make a further request to all employers to have a very complete check of their employees to make absolutely sure that they are not retaining in their employment any unregistered men. Apart from the liabilities which a reservist incurs by avoiding registration, an employer himself may also incur a substantial penalty by retaining in his employment an unregistered man. Where any employer is in doubt about any particular case, he should take the first opportunity of referring the matter to the Director of National Service, Wellington.”