NATIONAL REGISTER

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 84, 8 April 1916, Page 6

NATIONAL REGISTER

POSITION OF DEFAULTERS.

"One of the objects of the Recruiting Board in providing the lists that have been sent out to the various local committees," said the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister' of Internal Affairs,, to a Post reporter this morning, "is ■ that they should act as a check on the National Register. The lists sent out by the board are the men of military age, and it is anticipated that the effect of local action will be to assist the Internal Affairs Department in completing the register. The total number of names sent in for the register, which included all men between the ages of 17 and 60, was 303,000; arid the Government Statistician, who has reported to me on the subject, is of opinion that the evaders cannot be very great in number in proportion to those dealt with—probably between 2 and 3 per cent, of the registrations.

"Recruiting Committees have been asked to undertake the work of personal canvass, having before them two objects —to secure the man and to complete the register. The lists obtained by these committees will, on receipt, be placed at the disposal of the Government Statistician, who will check them against the register, and steps will be taken ■under, the National Registration Act to prosecute all those who have neglected or refused to fulfil their obligations by registering. Under section 2of the Act, any person who wilfully fails to furnish the particulars required, or wilfully makes any false statement with respect to such particulars, is liable to a fine of not- less than £5 and not exceeding £100, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months. So soon as the lists have been finally checked, and the names of the defaulters ascertained, proceedings will be taken, and the Department is now preparing for this.

"From all over Xew Zealand," added Mr. Russell, "the Department has received assistance from voluntary advisers, who have sent in lists of names. These are being carefully checked by the Department, and the lists of defaulters to hand will be ready in a few days."

There is no truth in the report that the public schools of the district will be closed next week. The work will, in fact, proceed as usual. At most of the schools the attendance is particularly good.