NATIONAL WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 8

NATIONAL WORK

LIABILITY TO REGISTER

CLASSES INVOLVED

A warning was given yesterday by the Minister of Industrial Manpower (Mr. McLagan) that steps will shortly be taken to carry out a widespread check-up on those who are liable to register for work of national importance. He also referred to the obligation on all employers to see that employees concerned had registered. The classes of persons who should now be registered are as follows: — Males (including aliens) from 18 to 70 years inclusive, who have in the past 15 years had 12 months or more experience in building and construction work (including labourers) or in skilled engineering and metal trades (but not including motor mechanics). Males (including aliens) from 18 to 65 yeax*s inclusive,. who have in the past 15 years had 12 months or more experience in timber-felling, timbersplitting, firewood-cutting, or the transport of logs. All males (including aliens) from 46 to 59 years inclusive. All females (including aliens) from 20 to 30 years inclusive. All male aliens from 18 to 45 years inclusive. EXEMPTED CLASSES. "Under all current registration orders there are exemptions for persons rendering full-time service in the armed forces, persons in receipt of inyalid or war pensions, persons serving in merchant ships, inmates of hospitals, asylums, and prisons, and full-time employees of registered hospitals," said the Minister. "In addition, persons already registered for work of national importance are exempt from subsequent registration for the same purpose, but it must be clearly understood that registration for other forms of national service (such as military service, including Home Guard or E.P.S.) do not give any exemption from the requirements to register separately for work of national importance on the special registration form provided. "Under some of the orders there have been further exemptions from the liability to register. Women 24 to 30 years are not required to register if they are married women with children of their own to care for. Women aged 20 and 21 years and men aged 46 to 59 years inclusive are not required to register so long as they are employed in the following occupations: Police, firemen (full time), farming, mining or oil prospecting, railways, gas or electricity production and supply, doctors, dentists, dental mechanics, pharmacists, dispensers, opticians, optical mechanics. Judges, Magistrates, members of the General Assembly, and officiating ministers.

"Apart from those specifically exempted, everyone within the ages called up should now have registered. Anyone who has not done so (and we already hold iists of some such people) should do so immediately. If any persons have failed to register by November 7 there will be no option but to institute proceedings against them for an offence in failing to register, and against any employer concerned for an offence in failing to report defaulting employees."