MILITARY SERVICE ACT

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE ACT

RECRUITING DISTRICTS ABOLISHED

NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED. A Gazette ..'Extraordinary was issued today containing several proclamations and amending certain regulations under the Military Service Act. I For the purpose of enabling men 6f the Second Division to be selected from a single register for the whole of New Zealand instead of from district registers as in the case of the First Division, the abolition of the various recruiting districts established under the Military Service Act is notified by the Minister of Defence. The regulations providing for the attestation of voluntary recruits and compulsory recruits are likewise revoked, and the following substituted: "Every voluntary recruit shall at tlw time when he takes the oath of allegiance under the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1915, be attested in the presence of an attesting officer in the' form set out in the First Schedule.

"Every compulsory recruit shall, before being first received into a camp of military training, or forthwith thereafter, be attested in the presence of an attesting officer in the form set out in the Second Schedule.

"Every compulsory recruit may, if ho so desires, take the oath of alJegiance and be attested in the same manner .is a voluntary recruit, instead of in the manner set"forth in the Second Schedule.

"Every compulsory recruit who refuses or fails, whon required to do bo by any officer under whose command he is, to. appear before an attesting officer and there to answer all questions submitted to him and be attested in accordance with these regulations shall be guilty of disobedience to the lawful commands of the officer under whose command he so is, and shall be liable under the Army Act accordingly." The regulations regarding medical examination are amended as follows: —

Clauses IS an;! 16 of the regulations referred to are revoked, and tho following substituted therefor:— "15. Every report of a Medical Board shall classify the recruit in one or other of the following six classes: "A. Men fit for active service beyond •the seas. "81. Men fit for active service beyond the seas if they undergo special medical, surgical,' or dental treatmental (after operation in camp or public hospital). "82. Men fit for active service beyond the seas if they undergo specified medical, surgical, or dental treatment (after recovery at home). "Cl. Men likely to become fit for active service beyond the seas after special training. "C 2. Men permanently unfit for active service beyond the seas, but fit for service of some nature in New Zealand in connection with or for the purpose of the present war. "D. Men permanently unfit either for active service beyond the seas, or for any service in New Zealand in | connection with or for the purpose of the present war."