THE AREA OFFICER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 6

THE AREA OFFICER.

BUSY DAYS AND NIGHTS. AT THE GARIfISON HALL. The AVellington Garrison Hall nowadays is a vastly different place from what it was a tew months ago. There is a bustle ami purpose apparent, ami Im> City Area Officer, Lieutenant Kass:un, and lii-s area sergeant-majors have thi'ir hands lull, what with roßistcriiig the eligible youths of the eily and supervising (he drill of the territorials al the woning parades. Their day commences at I) a.m., and with a break for lum-h ami lea, continues right on till 10 and even It o'clock al night. The area officer, in his otiicial capacily as permanent adjutant of the City Infantry Battalion, devotes his evenings to giving instruction to the officers and non-com-missioned officers of the battalion, and taking occasional drills of the rank and file of each of the company units. With regard to Ihc registration work, the area oflicer and his staff are experiencing a steady stream of application?. The wording of the official proclamation, which is posted up everywhere, is being misinterpreted by a considerable number of the eligibles with regard to the phrase, "!>ctwe:n the ages of U and 20 (inclusive)". It was "pointed out in J liK Dominion- quite recently, and is now reiterated lo remove misconception, that all persons who are 20 years and odd month; of age nr<? liable for registration. Jinny think, that if they are over 20 they are not included in the terms of the proclamation. That is not so. They are only free from liability if they have reached the age of 21 on or before March 1, 1011. .Some amusing mistakes occur in the registration forms as filled in by certain casual individuals. For gxamp'lc, when asked to state (he name nt his employer, one man, who is in the Customs Department, wrote "The Ki.ng." Another, employed in the Xew Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Department, said I hat he was employed by "Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G." Numbers of the statements filled in are not specific enough. In one cx-e the "date- of birth" is casually slated "July 12," no reference being made to the year; another gives the year, lint fails to note the month and 'day. Postal addre.-s-es are vague also, one man giving "Wellington" as his address when he should have liven as well the street and number. Persons attending a primary, secondary, or other educational establishment should state th« name of the school, and whether attending day or evening classes, and on what dm- oi (he week, if at .in evening class. The question of exemptions will bo gone into when, the initial process of registration has been completed.