OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 42, 18 August 1916, Page 7

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

ACT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY RECRUITING BOARD.

The statement issued by the Hon. W. F Massey, as Chairman of the Recruiting Board, is as follows :—

"The Military Service Act proyides for both' civil and military processes, and in the circumstances Cabinet has deemed it desirable that there should ts a. uniform controlling authority. The administration of the Act, therefore, so far as concerns all matters - in. respect to which the Statute does not give a specific direction, has been placed under the control of the Recruiting Board. PROCLAIMING ENROLMENT OF RESERVE. "I have now to announce that it has been, decided to proclaim, the enrolment of the Ist Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve on Friday, Ist September, 1916, and of the 2nd Division on the day following, namely, Saturday, the 2nd September, 1916. In the case of each Division, a period of fourteen days thereafter is allowed by the Act to all men of military age (not less than 20 . and under 46 years of age) who have nofc registered under the National Registration Act to enrol under the Military Service Act, or to men who have changed their place of abode since registration to notify their new address. REASON FOR'SIMULTANEOUS ENROLMENT. "It has been found necessary to proclaim the enrolment of both Divisions of the Re serve simultaneously in order to protect the men in the 2nd Division. The Act empowers any constable, after the enrolment of the Ist Division has. been proclaimed, to question any man who may reasonably be supposed to be of military age, and to detain him if he is not satisfled with his answers. The Act also forbids any employer to employ a reservist who is not .enrolled.' For the protection of Reservists I certificates of enrolment will be issued on application to every man who is enrolled, and the production of this certificate will be a sufficient answer to any constable, and a sufficient proof to any employer of enrolment. But this certificate cannot be issued to a man who belongs to the 2nd Division' until the enrolment of that Division is proclaimed. Hence the necessity to proclaim both Divisions so that every man of military age may receive this evidence of Jiis enrolment. Ist DIVISION TO BE EXHAUSTED FIRST. "It should- bo distinctly understood that while the compulsory provision of the Act will not be upplied to the 2nd Division of the Reserve until the Ist Division is exhausted, that fact does not relieve any man of military age in either Division of his obligation with respect to enrolment or notifying any change of address. "The Ist Division consists of Reservists who are unmarried men or married men whose marriage took place since Ist May, 1915, unless they have a child under 16 years of age by a previous marriage, or widowers with- no -■children under 16 or men who are divorced or judicially Separated from their Wives, and who have no children under 16 years of age, and the 2nd Division consists of all other Reservists. CAMPAIGN OF PUBLICITY. "During this enrolment period the widest publicity will be given to the obligations imposed by the Act on Reservists and employers by means of -advertisements in all newspapers, and by posters, placards and lantern slides conspicuously displayed from end to end of the Dominion. The display of ' these ' posters, placards, and slides will be made compulsory as a war necessity by Regulations to be issued under the War Regulations Act. Any person refusing to display these posters, placards, or lantern slides on request, will be guilty of an offence under the War Regulations Act, and will be liable on summary conviction to the penalties' imposed by that Act.' DUTY Of EVERYONE. "The Board also intends to issue- a statement clearly setting forth the provisions of the Act with respect to the duties of Reservists and of employers, and the penalties they will incur if they neglect or refuse to discharge these duties. Every man of military age should make it his particular business to carefully read this statement as well as the advertisements of posters and placards which will appear on Friday, the Ist September next/and subsequently during the enrolment period. WHEN THE ACT WILL BE ENFORCED. "The Act lias two main functions: (a) the enrolment of the Reserve; and (b) ■ the calling up of the Reserve. It is proposed to enrol the Reserve within the period stated, but there will be no calling up under the Act so long as voluntary recruiting produces the number of men required for each Reinforcement draft."