MILITARY SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE

ENROLMENT OF RESERVES

THE POSITION OF "REJECTS.",

[Special to the ' Star.']

AVELLINGTON, August 17. The creation of the first and second divisions of the Expeditionary Force Reserve will be proclaimed within the next fortnight, as mentioned by the Minister to a ' Star' representative in Dunedin. The Defence Department will proceed then with the work of enrolment, the basis being the National Register. The value of the register for this purpose will vary- in districts according to the amount of work done already by the Recruiting Committees. The personal canvass desired by the Recruiting Board has been carried out thoroughly "in some parts of the country, and there the register as amended by the committees may be regarded as a very accurate record of the men of military ase still available for service. Other committees have neglected this work, and the resister has remained unchecked. The aim oi the department will be to prepare the rolls as nearly complete and accurate as possible, and obviously this work will take time.

A question has been asked regarding the position of a man who volunteered for service and was .rejected as temporarily unfit on account of some phys-'cal defect that probably could be removed by treatment or operation. Some thousands of men suffering from varicose veins, varicocele, hernia, decayed teeth, .and otner troubles fall into this category borne of them appear to have an °idea that they will be exempt. This is not' the case; they will be enrolled in trie ordinary way, and though they cannot be required to make themselves fit for service the Act provides that they may not refuse treatment ; by the State. If a man classed as "temporarily unfit" is summoned for training under the compulsory clauses the Defence authorities will decide whether or not he shall be rendered fit at the public expense