MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1941, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE

WARNING TO DEFAULTERS

EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATION

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Steps are now being taken by the Army authorities in Auckland to discover a number of men who failed to respond to notices calling them to par-

ade last Wednesday for entry into camp with Expeditionary Force reinforcements. Registered notices are being sent to the men's addresses setting out their obligations and failure to respond will result in the men's names being sent to Army headquarters in Wellington for gazetting as defaulters. Failure to take notice of the Gazette will result in further action being taken.

The Army is also drawing attention to the legal obligation of employers who keep in their service men whom they know have been called for military service. The penalty provided in the Emergency Regulations Act, 1939. is a fine of £100 and/or up to six months' imprisonment. The onus of ascertaining whether a man is evading military service is placed upon the employer and it was suggested by an Army officer that employers should establish the military status of all men employed by them, particularly of casual labour employed by the day or week, as it was unlikely that a defaulter would seek permanent engagement.