H—ll

(xxiv) Hearing by Conscientious Objection Committee.—To maintain uniformity in the determination of applications by conscientious objectors, one Committee only lias been established with jurisdiction over the whole of New Zealand. (xxv) Unconditional Registration.—Those who are ordered by the Objection Committee to be registered unconditionally are not required to undertake service, but may, for 158 days, which is the equivalent of the period of active service required under the Act, be required to make payments to the Social Security Fund to ensure that their financial position is no better than if they were serving as privates in the Army. (xxvi) Non-combatant Service.—Persons who are ordered to be registered as liable to be called up for service but to be employed only in non-combatant duties shall be employed in the Armed Forces only in non-combatant duties. (xxvii) Effect of Dismissal of Application.—Where an application is dismissed by the Conscientious Objection Committee, the provisional registration of the applicant in the register of conscientious objectors is cancelled, and the applicant is registered in the military service register. Thereafter he is liable to perform the service required of those registered in that register. (xxviii) Change in Register of Conscientious Objectors.—Any person who is a registered conscientious objector may at any time apply to the Director of Employment in writing—(a) For the removal of his name from the register of conscientious objectors and for his registration in the military service register; or (b) For his registration in the register of conscientious objectors as a person liable to be called up for service but to be employed only in non-combatant duties. (xxix) Employment of Unregistered Persons.—The obligation is placed upon employers to ensure that all persons in their employ who are liable for service have in fact registered or have applied for registration. (xxx) Persons Desiring to Leave New Zealand.—No person who is liable for registration, or who is registered or enlisted for service, may leave the Dominion before completion of his part-time service without first obtaining the consent of the Director of Employment. (xxxi) False Statements. —Any person who, in giving any information for the purpose of the Act, with intent to deceive, makes any false or misleading statement or any material omission commits an offence under the Act, rendering him liable to the penalties prescribed. (4) It will be seen that the first step required of persons liable under the Act is to register. Eegistration is effected at one of the Department's district offices, which thereafter is responsible for the medical examination of registrants, the enlistment into the Forces of those found acceptable, and for the disposal of applications for postponement of service either administratively under special statutory authority, or by way of hearing before Military Service Postponement Committees. Those who are available for service are then listed to the Service authorities for calling up and training. (5) The Act provides for the establishment of a Medical Committee to advise the Minister in the exercise of his functions under the Act in relation to medical examination. This Committee consists of the Directors of Medical Services of the Navy, Army, and Air Force ; a representative of the British Medical Association and of the Department of Health, and the Director of Employment who is Chairman. The Committee was duly constituted, and submitted to the Minister nominations of medical practitioners for appointment as Regional Medical Officers. The Committee also issued a handbook of instructions on the PULHEEMS system of medical examination for the guidance of Medical Boards, and determined the standard of acceptability for service. The Regional Medical Officers were responsible for organizing in their districts, locations, equipment, and facilities for x-r,ay, visual, and physical examinations, and for nominating suitable medical practitioners for appointment to Medical Boards which were duly constituted. The New Zealand Institute of Opticians organized throughout the country the personnel and equipment necessary for visual examinations.

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