SECOND DIVISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 249, 2 August 1941, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION

CERTIFICATES OF ENROLMENT. ALL ARE NOT YET ISSUED. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In a, statement to-day regarding certificates of enrolment for the Second Division -reservists, the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) said that it had come to his notice that many employers were threatening employees with dismissal or were withholding wages till they can produce evidence that they have registered under the National Service Emergency Regulations. “While the employers’ action is commendable in every respect, and in fact is strictly in accordance with their obligations under the regulations, as they are liable on conviction to a substantial fine if they employ for more than seven days an unregistered reservist, I would like to point out that as all the certificates have not- yet been posted to reservists, any action taken in this direction at this juncture would be rather premature.” Mr Semple said that a few thousand certificates were still on hand and will be posted in a day or so. Even then, there were hundreds of reservists whbse enrolment forms are subject to further .inquiry and investigation. It may be some time before these latter cases are finally cleared up, but in order to pro-tect-employers and employees, each .reservist will receive an interim acknowledgment of his registration. As soon as this work has been completed a further announcement will l be made in the press, requesting all employers to make a complete checking of their staff as from the specified date, so as to ensure that all those eligible for enrolment have performed this duty.